Two strangers arrive at Illthwaite, England, seeking information about their respective ancestors. Both stay at Stranger House. In this dryly humorous, deliberately paced, subtle thriller, Reginald Hill serves up an ambitious story of religious persecution, two unsolved murders--one from the fifteenth century and one from the 1960s--Norse mythology, buried treasure, and human sacrifice. Gordon Griffin's narration makes this story shine as he exerts control over the flashbacks, the foreshadowing, and the dizzying swirl of events. Griffin provides unique voices for a brash 20-something Australian mathematician; a former seminarian who suffers from manifestations of stigmata; a blacksmith with a Viking swagger; and a host of quirky, devious villagers. Even at a hefty 16 hours, this audiobook left this reviewer wanting more.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2006
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books/ Clipper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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