No mystery writer explores situational ethics more often or more engrossingly than Lawrence Block in his deeply satisfying series of Matthew Scudder mysteries. Scudder, an alcoholic and a failed father and husband, has strong convictions and a highly developed sense of right and wrong, but they're informed by a lifetime of mistakes and regrets and, therefore, seem honestly earned. Hammer's reading reflects just the sort of weariness, cynicism and sentiment of Block's hero, who in this case confronts not one, but possibly three, serial killers. Hammer successfully navigates almost all of the New York types populating the novel, the lone exception being his un-fortunate attempt at Scudder's street-smart teenaged protégé, T.J. It is Hammer's one misstep in an otherwise impressive outing.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
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
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