It's 1973 and the first day on the job for DCI Monika Paniatowski. Not only does she have to deal with the discovery of a severed hand but also with the blatant resentment of her staff because she's been promoted in a male-dominated profession. She's also accused of partiality towards a fellow Polish immigrant who seems certain to have been the murderer. Narrator Nicolette McKenzie gives distinctive personalities to characters of myriad ages, education levels, and backgrounds. Her Eastern European accents crackle with life. The unusual setting of a bakery, with its large multicultural staff, makes for a fascinating procedural as Monika works hard to prove herself. Several false conclusions keep listeners guessing until the end.
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2010
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 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
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