Mary Russell, friend and apprentice of an aging Sherlock Holmes, investigates some suspicious deaths surrounding the charismatic Margaret Childe and her Temple of God. With a minimum of vocal gymnastics Jenny Sterlin creates a Mary Russell who is enormously likable and believable, especially when she finds herself in the sort of predicament that bad movies are made of. Her simultaneous courage, terror and desperation come through subtly, but clearly. Holmes, despite his grating voice, is properly sardonic and arrogant. While the other characters, except for Margaret, are largely indistinguishable, this is more the author's flaw. Since the reading succeeds or fails with the character of Mary Russell, this one succeeds admirably.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1996
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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