Thompson's convoluted story tells of a troubled bookie who is trying to avoid his shady past, only to fall straight into an elaborate and deadly con game. Trying to make sense of this plot is narrator Robertson Dean, who assumes the role of protagonist Herman Jackson. Dean's voice, rich with character and mystery, gives the sense of a man with his fair share of secrets to tell. In this underplayed performance, Dean offers little in the way of improvisation and acting, opting instead to read the story in one gritty voice that tends to grate on the ears of the listener. As Jackson, Dean is perfect in his delivery, but his lack of variation for the supporting characters slows the story.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
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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