Add in the atmospheric landscapes and an attractive detective, and the result is a highly entertaining listening experience.
Narrators Helen Laser and Jesse Vilinsky instantly captivate listeners. In this mystery, shifting points of view propel listeners into the investigation of the disappearance of Bowie Bishop, an 18-year-old exchange student and gifted singer-songwriter. Laser's measured, thoughtful tone perfectly suits Lake Harlowe, a diplomat with a traumatic past who is newly assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. Vilinsky fully inhabits Bowie and delivers the many song lyrics central to her storyline with emotional clarity. Both narrators skillfully render the New Zealand accents for characters who are male and female, young and old, adding authenticity to the story's setting.
Add in the atmospheric landscapes and an attractive detective, and the result is a highly entertaining listening experience.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 34 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668136881
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: July 13, 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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