Returning to Castillo's Kate Burkholder series, narrator Kathleen McInerney is unable to overcome the weaknesses of the plot. Her abrupt reading style, combined with Castillo's stiff writing, creates jerkiness in the narration. McInerney also exaggerates the farcical personal drama of Burkholder's character, a seasoned police chief who needs to regularly remind everyone, "I'm a cop." Neither Castillo nor McInerney seem convinced this protagonist is strong enough to lead a police force since both depict her as an indecisive, overly emotional stereotype. Fans who have consistently enjoyed this audiobook series are likely to continue doing so, but newcomers and those noticing a decline in the later installments should pass this one over for a less melodramatic mystery.
Pub Date: July 14, 2015
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427260970
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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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