Olen Steinhauer's novel once again features the methodical, honest-to-a-fault Inspector Emil Brod, who labors for justice in some Soviet Bloc country. He investigates crime in spite of the oppressive political structure of his unnamed nation, often to his own detriment. With the novel’s exotic locale and fascinating characters, listeners might expect narrator Don Leslie to inject a bit of a foreign accent into his characters. But he doesn't. The characters of VICTORY SQUARE might be New York private detectives if not for the intriguing story line—a confusing investigation into a decades-old murder on the eve of the fall of Communism in 1989. Fortunately, the novel is strong enough to overcome the narrator's shortcomings.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2009
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone 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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