Ralph Cosham’s excellent narration of Louise Penny’s newest mystery demonstrates why a terrific narrator is an author’s best partner. In this book, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec takes on two murder cases although he’s nominally on leave. Cosham, who has narrated all the books in the series, brings a sensitivity of pacing that helps listeners understand the complexities of the interwoven plotlines. He offers a deep reading of Gamache, emphasizing a level personality that’s sometimes sharp, often witty. And he delivers lovely character studies of everyone from young Québecois beat cops to elderly Anglo librarians. Plus, he easily pronounces the French phrases scattered throughout the text. My only quibble is that the Penny-Cosham team kept me listening past my bedtime.
Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2010
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427210722
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
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