Bernadette Dunne is the ideal choice to narrate this tale of intrigue and betrayal in eighteenth-century Japan. She especially captures the strength and vividness of the female characters--from teenagers to pregnant wives. She's a master at switching between the narrative and the voices of the wide-ranging cast, both men and women. Dunne sets the stage for this complex story of murder, loyalty, and succession by making the most of the emotions built into the story. Though this is a world unfamiliar to most listeners, Dunne's delivery reflects the common human experience at the center of the story, thereby making a bygone world familiar.
Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2013
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781624068348
Publisher: Dreamscape
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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