Set in 1950s America, THE RAGTIME FOOL is a story of music, race, and murder centered around the life and music of ragtime composer Scott Joplin. Karp fills this book with many characters that, while interesting to the story line, prove to be monotonous when read by Mirron Willis. Particularly in scenes of dialogue between three or more people, Willis fails to differentiate between the characters clearly enough. However, Willis's pacing is fluid, and his tone is intense when needed and comfortably relaxed elsewhere. Nonetheless, group dialogue is an essential aspect of the plot, and the story suffers as a result of its narration.
Pub Date: April 1, 2010
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Benet Archdale and housemaid Carol Stratford are two young, single parents who have no reason to know each other. They become tangled in a nightmarish spiral of kidnap, fraud, family violence and death. Ruth Rendell creates psychological suspense in thrillers that are compulsively readable or, in this case, listenable. British actress Imelda Staunton's reading is perfectly paced, and the characters are well defined. You'll have a hard time turning it off.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emerson and Peabody are at it again! Uncovering antiquities takes a back-seat as the romantic archaeologists track down the master criminal who is stealing Egypt's ancient treasures. With the help of their precocious son, Ramses, the intrepid pair unravel this mystery in crowded bazaars, desert camps and the heart of the Black Pyramid. Barbara Rosenblat's reading fully measures up to the tale. She is a master of timing and nuance. Rosenblat's power for character interpretation has grown with each book in this amusing series. This is the best one yet.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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