When a dying prisoner confesses that he lied about having murdered a child, the crime that sent him to prison, it creates a dilemma for the priest who hears him--and for the cops, who now must reopen the case, originally led by a beloved detective. Nicolette McKenzie's tender tone works in counterpoint to the harshness of the murder investigation. She captures the expository reflections of the original investigator, young copper Charlie Woodend, as well as the horrors he encounters pursuing the killer. Shifting to the present day, she ably conveys the frustration of the current detectives on the cold case. At times, the novel is discomforting, with McKenzie making evident the tension in everyone's thoughts and voices. It's a skillful job of narrating a chilling murder story.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
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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