At times hilarious and at times plodding, Helton’s police procedural always manages to entertain. Detective Inspector Liam McLusky is an enigma. His methods are often unusual, and his style leaves more grizzled detectives shaking their heads. But that’s why the story works. David Thorpe’s enthusiastic performance also helps, especially in the scenes that could be deemed “stand-alone entertainment.” For example, Thorpe challenges the listener not to laugh out loud at certain moments, such as when McLusky wrecks a police car at the start of the book. Thorpe's wry, almost sarcastic, tone extracts every emotion from McLusky and the other officers, many of whom do not appreciate McLusky’s methods.
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
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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