Rome in AD 70 and the present day have startling similarities? not least of which is the prevalence of crime and those who work to stop it. Enter Marcus Didius Falco, private informer? the private detective of the times? who is dating a woman far above his status and tackling cases that threaten his personal well-being. In VENUS, his third outing with the BBC, Falco has to solve the matter of a mysterious bribe for a family of freed slaves. This lavish dramatization offers a superb audio experience? and full marks are deserved for the amount of attention paid to the layering of sound, particularly in crowd scenes. The production is incredible through speakers, but even better in a dark room with good headphones!
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2006
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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