The historic Hebrew Bible was long kept in Aleppo, Syria. When the synagogue where it was kept was set afire in 1947, the Bible was thought to have been destroyed. But a portion survived, was placed in hiding, and 10 years later was smuggled into Israel. The Associated Press's Friedman went into "the Aleppo Codex underground" to track its journey. Friedman's excellent descriptions set the stage for the stops along the way, and Simon Vance's smooth British accent puts listeners on the scene. As Friedman's investigation unfolds, Vance embodies the author's outrage at "the tragedy of human weakness" responsible for the loss of some of the great work.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2012
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781611747737
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
GENERAL HISTORY | TRUE CRIME | WORLD | JEWISH | HISTORY
An interesting Ozark history that doesn’t quite cohere.
Author Hale presents the case of his young cousin Haley's disappearance on Cave Mountain in 2001 and the ensuing search and rescue operation, the largest in Arkansas history. Hale connects this with the murder of 3-year-old Bethany by a small and isolated religious sect decades earlier on the same mountain. Narrating these two stories in a low, slightly gruff tone, Hale weaves together family anecdotes, Ozark lore, local and broader history, and Christian theology. While the two cases are intriguing, the work lacks focus and contains extraneous details.
An interesting Ozark history that doesn’t quite cohere.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063398153
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2026
Bower’s performance gives an accessible, straightforward account of a case which remains unsolved after 80 years.
This audiobook examines the 1947 murder and dismemberment of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, and shares new information. Narrator Michael Bower gives a deep-voiced, intense presentation that humanizes Short. He gently traces her youthful experiences in Hollywood that culminate in her death. Despite the growing list of suspects, Bower expresses author Mann’s frustrations as all are dismissed for lack of evidence. Listeners will appreciate the newscaster-style delivery, which is clear and distinct even as the number of suspects grows. The author states he intended to separate fact from fiction.
Bower’s performance gives an accessible, straightforward account of a case which remains unsolved after 80 years.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668118818
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
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