Listening to this audiobook takes one back in time to hear the voices of monks, actors, scholars, and scoundrels. The Medieval Murderers write literate and baffling mysteries. THE FIRST MURDER begins in 1154 when a prior writes a biblical mystery play that includes the story of Cain and Abel. This play about fratricide is cursed and leads to murder when it's performed in Ely in 1361, in London in 1606, and in Oxford in 1820. These disparate stories are connected smoothly by the steady, elegant voice of Paul Matthews. Whether it's a guilty young monk or a thieving actor, each character is fully credible. Matthews takes us subtly through each scene and captivates us with a polished performance. D.L.G.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470363321
Publisher: Recorded Books/ Clipper 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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