Actor and writer Malcolm Hillgartner has the sense of irony and the comic timing needed to bring out the best in Bowen's fourth mystery featuring attorney Reppert ("Rep") Pennyworth and his wife, a literature professor. With a madcap plot that includes jury tampering, forgery, piracy on the high seas, a kerfuffle at a Brontë Society conference, and the discovery of a WWII papal decree, Bowen's novel soars with adventure and intellectual wit. The two lead characters, modern-day incarnations of Nick and Nora Charles, lead listeners through the seedier sides of corporate deceit, legal wrangling, and political correctness. The complex subplots and clever banter may leave some listeners confused, but Hillgartner's energy, pace, and sensitivity to the characters make Bowen's writing come to life.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2008
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone 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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