Flavia Alba, wonderfully performed by Lucy Brown, is a freelance investigator in classical Rome. She accepts an assignment from an official named Manilius Faustus in spite of her rule against working with men she finds attractive. The crime, a triple murder, is ingeniously plotted, and the setting is completely fascinating--like an episode of "The Wire" set in ancient times. You find out all kinds of things about domestic life, politics, slavery, crime and punishment, and the workings of the city from top to bottom. Lucy Brown's voice is lovely, and she has a wonderful way with the tongue in cheek, which suits Davis's style perfectly. Brown's Flavia is likable and pragmatic but not hard, and she delineates a diverse cast with ease. Delightful.
Pub Date: June 30, 2015
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504637879
Publisher: Blackstone 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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