P.D. James matches her literary wit to that of Jane Austen in this homage to the nineteenth-century author. Her brave undertaking is joined gloriously with Rosalyn Landor's upper-crust enunciation and gentle yet crisp British accent. The story takes place in 1803, six years after PRIDE AND PREJUDICE's Elizabeth and Darcy were wed. Landor conveys women's vocal cadences distinctively, but male characters all sound identically guttural. Much of the beginning of the story is a reprise of Austen's famed novel, with bits of imagined moments, to entice aficionados. Then murder most foul comes to Pemberley. Austen purists may be shocked but still laud James's inspiration, born of her lifelong passion for Austen. James's devotees will delight in the suspenseful criminal mischief.
Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2011
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780449011164
Publisher: Random House 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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