As Roman "informer" Marcus Didius Falco travels to Greece to investigate the murder of a young woman, Golden Voice Christian Rodska delivers a wonderful account of Falco's journey with his entourage of wife, nephews, household staff, adopted daughter, and dog. Rodska slurps and drools as a sleazy travel agent trying to sell Falco a pricey tour; in sum, he turns in a performance liberally sprinkled with humor, rapid-fire exchanges, stunning surprises, and genuine tenderness. As the travelogue unfolds, including visits to the Acropolis, the Delphic Oracle, and the temple of Olympian Zeus, the mystery deepens and the body count rises. Rodska's accomplished acting makes this seventeenth Marcus Didius Falco mystery one of the best.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2006
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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