Jackson’s reflective performance, wide emotional range, and subtle humor make this an irresistible listen.
Gildart Jackson’s stellar narration is a perfect fit for this splendid police procedural and its well-developed characters. The Norfolk, England, investigative team is called upon to reopen an inquiry into the murder of Lord Freddie Thorpe. Popular retired superintendent Smith’s occasional presence affects everyone’s outlook, including that of his capable replacement, DCI Cara Freeman. Jackson’s portrayal makes her a force to be reckoned with, and he realistically renders both upper-class suspects and working-class locals. Details of the team’s private lives and relationships add verisimilitude to a complex and compelling plot, and the squad’s dedication to doing right by the victim is moving and fascinating.
Jackson’s reflective performance, wide emotional range, and subtle humor make this an irresistible listen.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668660645
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
Ericksen’s performance makes for a lively listening experience.
Narrator Susan Ericksen transports the listener to 2060s New York City, where Lt. Eve Dallas is investigating the murder of scientist Larry Chu, who was found brutally beaten to death. The case takes Dallas to the secretive, power-hungry company that Chu worked for. As the longtime narrator of this long-running series, Ericksen has established voices for the main characters, and she’s just as skillful performing secondary characters. She brings a haughty arrogance to her portrayal of Chu’s employer. Dallas is aided in her investigation by her Irish husband, Roarke, for whom Ericksen adds a hint of Irish lilt.
Ericksen’s performance makes for a lively listening experience.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250446671
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2026
A mystery that loves its plot twists more than its characters.
Simon Vance sure-footedly guides listeners through the labyrinth of this mystery. Though it opens in Stockholm in 2008, the novel frequently flashes back to an unsolved 1980s murder, when a road trip taken by two friends culminated in the brutal killing of a young woman in Santander, Spain. Decades later, a Spanish detective who suspects the murder was related to a string of homicides approaches investigators Hans Rekke and Micaela Vargas for help. Despite Vance’s distinctive voices and accents, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between the past and present storylines. The convoluted plot and crowded cast of characters, few of whom are relatable, require immense concentration; while some listeners will have the patience, others will find that the resolution isn't worth the effort.
A mystery that loves its plot twists more than its characters.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 39 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406692
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2026
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