A superb ensemble of narrators animates this exciting tale of friendships and betrayals, a cartographers' cabal, maps, murder, and towns that may not be there. Among her father's effects, Nell, a cartographer, discovers what appears to be a worthless 1930s highway map. However, this map hides dark secrets as well as a "phantom settlement" known only to "the Cartographers." Possessing it puts Nell in great danger. Nell's third-person point of view comes alive with narrator Emily Woo Zeller's artistry, while the other narrators' perceptive interpretations create fascinating, believable secondary characters. Outstanding performances highlight Peng Shepherd's thrilling literary mystery, which is further spiced up with magical realism. The accompanying pdf of maps and diagrams makes Nell's investigations even more immediate.
Pub Date: 2022
Duration: 14 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063096530
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date:
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Grisham's story of the murder of two disparate Supreme Court Justices has a scope that could make abridgment difficult. Fortunately, all the plot threads are in place here: the sexual trysts, the murder investigation, and the political maneuverings which extend from the White House to the cloistered halls of the Supreme Court itself. A story this big has to be fun, and it is. While the reading seems tight at first, actor Anthony Heald soon warms to the material. Or perhaps the breakneck pace of the story takes over. The tapes are crisp and clear, and occasional music accentuates the suspense--adding to the fun.
Pub Date:
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 0553750933
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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