The latest Robinson mystery to feature Chief Inspector Alan Banks is as much a character study as an entertaining thriller. In an unusual device, Banks is on vacation for nearly half the book, leaving others to investigate matters in ways that may follow procedure but lead to complications. Banks returns to solve the mysteries that arose while he was away. Although the story meanders and the characters are rather formulaic, narrator Simon Prebble makes the most of the material. Prebble understands the value of both understatement and carefully timed emotions. For those unfamiliar with the Inspector Banks series, Prebble’s performance may be the most satisfying aspect of the book.
Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2010
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 0061362956
Publisher: Harper 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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