Most crime novels begin and end with murder, the more grisly the better. Robert Parker's NIGHT AND DAY is a little less predictable, a crime novel in which no one gets killed. James Naughton is the perfect voice for Jesse Stone, an alcoholic retired L.A. detective (played by Tom Selleck in the TV movies) who is now the police chief in the coastal Massachusetts town of Paradise. In this latest adventure, a peeping Tom is disturbing the tranquility of the place, and he's getting bolder. Naughton brings a laid-back attitude to the work with a smooth voice that entices and soothes. He's also a strong enough performer that the listener would know who's talking if the all-too-frequent "he said" and "she said" attributions were eliminated from the text.
Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2009
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: July 13, 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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