In a creepy, deja vu way, listening to Under the Beetle's Cellar is like hearing the actual news coverage of David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. There are many characters with police, media types and ordinary citizens in the majority. Critt does a masterful job with a huge amount of rapid-fire or emotional dialogue. It would be impossible not to, occasionally, blend characters, but she keeps everyone distinct. Much of the story is text, which flows at a pace appropriate to the story's action. The physical and psychological remoteness of the fanatic Mordecai and his victim, makes audio the perfect vehicle for this novel. Just about everyone should find Under the Beetle's Cellar captivating.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1996
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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