The narrators depict a lavish Sweet Sixteen party. Kate Handford portrays Dani, the young, cool stepmother of the birthday girl, Sophie. Handford's voice trembles as Dani fights the crippling anxiety she works so hard to hide. Saskia Maarlveld portrays Kim, Sophie's mother. Her bitter tone reflects both her situation and her near constant state of inebriation. Suzy Jackson portrays Mikayla, Sophie's best friend, a girl who is living in a fantasy. Pearl Hewitt is rlaith, the Irish nanny who cares for Dani's baby. Her brogue is perfect for lending authenticity to the superstitions and keen observations she delivers. Dan Bittner is Ethan, husband, father, charming sophisticate, and perhaps something else not quite as apparent. At this birthday celebration one person will die.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250397881
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Grisham's story of the murder of two disparate Supreme Court Justices has a scope that could make abridgment difficult. Fortunately, all the plot threads are in place here: the sexual trysts, the murder investigation, and the political maneuverings which extend from the White House to the cloistered halls of the Supreme Court itself. A story this big has to be fun, and it is. While the reading seems tight at first, actor Anthony Heald soon warms to the material. Or perhaps the breakneck pace of the story takes over. The tapes are crisp and clear, and occasional music accentuates the suspense--adding to the fun.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 0553750933
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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