When a poor working mother in Tokyo 's sprawling suburbs murders her abusive husband, she calls upon the women she works with to help dispose of his body. This tabloid of desperation and gender warfare moves forward with the deliberate inevitability of the Noh theatre. Narrator Bernadette Dunne has the skill to inform the listener not only through accents, but also by tendering emotions in the voice of each character. Her voice conveys every nuance of fear, elation, and even resignation. The women are delineated with such skill that they move before our eyes. Truly a journey into the underbelly of urban life, this novel is not for the faint of heart.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2006
Duration: 19 hrs
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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