The always engaging Simon Prebble adds immeasurably to one of Robinson's best Chief Inspector Banks mysteries. Margaret Thatcher’s conservative government and the coal miners' strikes of the 1980s are the catalyst for a tragic, seemingly senseless, present-day murder. Prebble captures the diversity of British and immigrant accents and evocatively delivers Robinson's rich descriptions of people and locales. The crime reignites England's class tensions, which sometimes hinder the police as they sift through multiple clues that conflict with each other. Glimpses of the personal lives of Banks and his staff add further interest. Listeners will share the ups and downs as police and victims experience the frustration of the investigation and then exhilaration when the surprising solution finally unfolds.
Pub Date: March 25, 2014
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062308818
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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