Narrator Will Damron introduces listeners to Michael Connelly's newest character, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell. Damron skillfully delivers this police procedural, rich with the detail, atmosphere, and character depth that we expect from Connelly. What sets this story apart from most of Connelly's others is its setting, Catalina Island, where police patrol in electric carts and mainland officers are exiled. Stilwell's strained relationships with former colleagues resurface as he investigates a murder, an animal sacrifice, and high-level corruption. Damron masterfully differentiates the male characters, good and evil, while also convincingly voicing the female roles. His performance contributes to the tension and intrigue. The result is an absorbing, entertaining listen and a strong start to what promises to be a compelling new series.
Pub Date: May 20, 2025
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668650592
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jackson’s reflective performance, wide emotional range, and subtle humor make this an irresistible listen.
Gildart Jackson’s stellar narration is a perfect fit for this splendid police procedural and its well-developed characters. The Norfolk, England, investigative team is called upon to reopen an inquiry into the murder of Lord Freddie Thorpe. Popular retired superintendent Smith’s occasional presence affects everyone’s outlook, including that of his capable replacement, DCI Cara Freeman. Jackson’s portrayal makes her a force to be reckoned with, and he realistically renders both upper-class suspects and working-class locals. Details of the team’s private lives and relationships add verisimilitude to a complex and compelling plot, and the squad’s dedication to doing right by the victim is moving and fascinating.
Jackson’s reflective performance, wide emotional range, and subtle humor make this an irresistible listen.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668660645
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2026
This installment of the character- and landscape-driven series delivers.
George Guidall returns to masterfully capture Sheriff Walt Longmire; his friend, Henry Standing Bear; and his foul-mouthed undersheriff and fiancée, Vic. Guidall also finds appropriate voices for the many new characters, including a 100-year-old monk. Longmire, investigating the death of the distinctly unpopular Pepper McKay, family patriarch, focuses on his four sons. When a second body is discovered, Longmire is drawn into a complex case that echoes Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. Guidall keeps perfect pace as tensions ratchet up with a killer on the loose and wildfires consuming the canyon. Listeners will feel the desperation as the fires close in. The real hero is Borax, the mule.
This installment of the character- and landscape-driven series delivers.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798891780002
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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