Robert Bathurst puts his own indelible stamp on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache in Louise Penny’s twelfth Three Pines puzzle. His Gamache is a bit brusque, but Bathurst also allows his softer, gentler side to show. Gamache comes out of retirement to become Commander of the Sûreté Academy du Québec. The future of the Sûreté depends on Gamache’s ability to clean out the corruption. Bathurst engages us completely when a mysterious map is found, a diabolical professor is murdered, and long-term abuses are revealed. He makes us feel Gamache’s genuine concern for four cadets who may be in danger. His delivery of Ruth, the resident poet-curmudgeon, is priceless. If you haven’t listened to this series, start at once. You’ll love your stay in Three Pines.
Pub Date: 2016
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427274380
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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