This genteel historical mystery makes a charming audio companion if you don't mind a few bodies in the alley. Jane Prescott, a purehearted orphan who works as a lady's maid in Gilded Age New York, is outraged that her sainted uncle, who runs a shelter for recovering ladies of the evening, is suspected of involvement in the murders. In her quest to clear him, Jane attracts the admiration of a young pianist/songwriter (think Irving Berlin) who opens just the right doors for her. Fredericks fills her tale with intriguing social history, including the much documented but still shockingly overt racist and sexist attitudes of the day. Stephanie Willis's narration begins with just the right naïve tone, then gains power as the story darkens.
Pub Date: April 14, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250261342
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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