Listeners are introduced to a large group of characters as the layers of an elaborate con unfold. In 1884, Alice, known in New York City as the Grand Duchess of Würrtemberg, is going to exact revenge upon the five robber barons who ruined her father and, consequently, her whole family. Narrator Megan Trout reveals Alice's plan and crew at a leisurely pace that allows listeners to get to know the characters and enjoy the plot twists. An author's note provides information about the real-life events and people that provided inspiration for the novel. Trout's careful delivery compensates for her lack of character differentiation and dearth of accents.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781400347759
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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