Lalla is the embodiment of a sociopath—and Weeks’ insightful performance almost makes her likable.
Perdita Weeks completely captures Lalla Rook’s inner snark in this satirical portrait of a sociopath. Gallows humor abounds as Lalla manipulates everyone and everything around her to achieve her goals—a partnership for her husband at his firm, an upscale house in a posh neighborhood, a place in a prestigious school for her daughter, and even murder, when necessary. Weeks makes Lalla sound perfectly reasonable and utterly without guilt as she crosses items off her to-do list, including framing her best friend for murder. With friends like Lalla, who needs enemies? Weeks uses an almost flat affect that conveys a woman convinced of her own sound reasoning.
Lalla is the embodiment of a sociopath—and Weeks’ insightful performance almost makes her likable.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 35 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668135020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
Anne McCaffrey's matter-of-fact and straightforward storytelling makes credible this tale of a universe being colonized by humans, a few of whom have telekinetic and telepathic powers. Jean Reed-Bahle's skillful narration is as fast-paced as the storyline, and she has a broad range of voices. The use of an echo effect when characters communicate telepathically is appropriate and effective. Brilliance has produced a program that listeners from teenagers to adults will enjoy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Robin Cook's medical thriller will have a built-in audience which, for the most part, will not be disappointed with this story. Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery is certain there is a connection in a series of Yuppie deaths. Technically the production is of high quality; no intrusive sound effects or music detract from the listening experience, and the narration is well-paced. However, narrator Peters's British accent and pronunciations are, at best, out of character and are downright ludicrous when she tries to impersonate Italian-American gangsters. The choice of narrator is inexplicable since the story is set in New York, and all major characters are Americans. Regardless, larger collections will want to have this because of Cook's popularity.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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