Sometimes the whole can be less than the sum of its parts, and that holds true with Henry Strozier's narration of this novel. Arkady Renko, senior investigator for Very Important Cases, returns for the eighth time in Smith's latest Russian police procedural. Many parts of Strozier's narration are superb; he doesn't create a pseudo Russian accent, he pronounces Russian names clearly, he uses a light tenor for female voices that works well, and he keeps the different characters' voices distinct. But the narration doesn't coalesce into a convincing delivery. The fatalism and bleakness of Smith's Russia don't manifest clearly, and the pacing occasionally seems sluggish. This is a great addition for fans of the Renko series, but newcomers may want to start with earlier books, like the stellar GORKY PARK.
Pub Date: 2013
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781442364370
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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