P.J. Ochlan narrates quietly and steadily as Tokyo homicide Inspector Iwata and his partner, Noriko Sakai, investigate the horrifying slaughter of a family. Soon, the pair find themselves puzzling over the ritualistic aspects of the murder: black smudges, a strange incense smell, a large black sun inscribed in charcoal, and other odd clues. Ochlan delivers the narrative and disturbing descriptions in unaccented tones. Japanese names and terms are smoothy read with a credible accent. The story of the murder is interspersed with Iwata's memories of a poem and his earlier life. This gritty yet haunting story makes for an unusual police procedural.
Pub Date: March 7, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427283634
Publisher: Macmillan 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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