Genevieve Gaunt never disappoints as she delivers the rich tapestry of characters, locales, and motivations in Pook's shipboard thriller. In 1849, Maude's sister, Constance, escaped the stodginess of Victorian England by disguising herself as a boy and signing on to the MAKEPEACE for an Arctic expedition. Two years later, Maude learns that Constance died in "a tragic accident," but after receiving Constance's diary, Maude suspects that expedition scientist Edison Stowe may have been involved. Maude follows in Constance's footsteps, disguising herself as a boy and joining the MAKEPEACE to keep an eye on Stowe. Gaunt's delivery is impeccable as Arctic storms, killing cold, starvation, and disease threaten them all. She makes listeners feel Stowe's pathological connection to bones and Maude's growing terror. Exciting listening.
Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2024
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797176673
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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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