Ruth Rendell continues to deserve the high praise she receives for her psychologically complex crime stories. Listeners will avidly follow the story of a London surburban couple trapped in a relationship from which death seems the only escape. Actor Simon Russell Beale narrates this gripping story with a quiet intensity that suits the tale. His vocal approach is understated and pleasant to hear. Evil and treachery lurk in the manicured gardens of Matchdown Park. Beale's performance is outstanding because he controls the listener's experience, building up suspence steadily, and he also makes the listener care about the characters and want the young divorcée to be safe and cared for. Beale manipulates feelings, and tells a fascinating story.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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