It's 1914, and the first rumblings of WWI are being felt in Egypt. Foreign nationals with German on their passports are being rounded up and interred by the British, who have the controlling power in Cairo. Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt (head of the secret police), is given this unpleasant task, which in some cases means losing valuable members of his own team. But the unpleasant becomes grim when one German ends up, not just dead, but wrapped like a mummy in a cemetery for cats. Nigel Carrington handles accents superbly, capturing the range of personalities in Pearce' story--from strident, hot-tempered girlfriend to gentle, mild-mannered civil servant. The mystery takes a backseat to the evocative, lush setting and exotic view of British history. Perfect escapism.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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