Though this oddly titled book is some 20 years old, when you give it a chance and listen, it's not dated at all. Yorkshire Chief Inspector Alan Banks solves a murder mystery by sleuthing, interviewing, and using his intuition. The story, which begins with the brutal murder of a lesbian actress, deals with several underlying issues, including sexuality and family violence. James Langton's British accent gives credibility to the principals. Yet when he's called upon to portray a newly promoted female detective (improbably named Susan Gay), you'd swear a woman is narrating. Langton's voice has more surprises as he deviates from the controlled tones of British detectives when the story calls for it. Book and reader are perfectly matched and, together, won't ever grow old.
Pub Date: Dec. 24, 2010
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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