Narrator Anthony Mark Barrow's talent enhances this unique mystery about nighthawking--illegally hunting artifacts at night using a metal detector--set primarily in an English botanical garden. Listeners are saddened when student Li Qiang's body is found in the garden. Investigating is Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler, who is appealing and successful but distracted by personal and professional issues. Detective Constable Mina Rabbani, who is dedicated but challenged as a woman and a Muslim, is handling the bulk of the case. Barrow flawlessly renders both officers, as well as believable and fascinating nighthawkers, crooked cops, and plant thieves. Colorful descriptions of nature and detectives' findings add atmosphere. Audio is a must, given the multiple characters, complex details, and fast-moving action.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593348062
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An engaging and suspenseful listen.
Lisa Flanagan’s talented narration brings ex-detective Vinnie Taylor alive as she settles in a small town in Maryland and tries to rebuild her life. When a routine shopping trip ends in Vinnie receiving a call for help from a teen who believes her best friend has been murdered, Vinnie soon finds herself embroiled in secrets and lies, along with a past she can’t forget. In Vinnie, Flanagan creates a strong, likable character, and she also creates a thoroughly believable cast of supporting characters, including troubled teenagers. Flanagan injects the perfect amount of urgency in her narration, allowing the tension to build as the plot twists to its exciting conclusion.
An engaging and suspenseful listen.Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063439269
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
Skillfully woven backstory allows newcomers to jump right in here without missing a beat.
Narrator Cathleen McCarron returns to deliver a totally engaging listening experience in McDermid’s eighth installment of the Karen Pirie series. McCarron’s command of Scottish accents, coupled with her ability to shift seamlessly between male and female characters, draws listeners in and keeps them glued to their earbuds. Pirie, chief of Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, and her capable team investigate a body dislodged from a rain-damaged motorway while also focusing on a supposed accidental death case. Listeners will enjoy the interplay among Pirie and her colleagues as they take bold measures to bring justice to victims’ families. McCarron’s assured narration heightens the procedural tensions and the emotional stakes.
Skillfully woven backstory allows newcomers to jump right in here without missing a beat.Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668170786
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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