Royal's medieval mysteries keep the characters believable to the time and offer enough details and personal traits that listeners will relate to them. Narrator Vanessa Benjamin delivers the quirks of this story with verve; hilarious nicknames, insulting personal descriptions, deliberate mispronunciations, and diverse accents are all splendid as they flow from her lips. Prioress Eleanor has her hands full solving a murder, caring for her charges, and dealing with Brother Thomas, for whom she has warm feelings. The highlight of this fascinating story is the scene in which Eleanor and Thomas communicate in Latin—as if they are praying—a clever deception that enables them to talk in front of the enemy.
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2009
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone 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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