This story, set in the South of France, is a quick listen meant for fans of Mayle's mystery series. Newcomers may feel as if they're missing something, as the characters aren't well introduced. When Francis Reboul refuses to sell his Marseille mansion to a Russian tycoon, the Russian arranges a hit on Reboul through the Corsican mafia. Fortunately, Reboul has friends in all the right places, including his American friends Sam and Elena, as well as friends in Corsica. Narrator Erik Davies gives a detached reading of the narrative, while the characters' accents, whether French, Corsican or Russian, sound cumbersome. The distracting and laborious narration combined with a thin plot, long lists of French wines, menus, and stereotyped characters makes for difficult listening.
Pub Date: May 13, 2014
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780804166157
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
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