Narrator Marni Penning shows off her acting skills in this convoluted murder mystery set at Astwell Palace in 1784. When clever, curious 40-year-old Miss Tiffany Woodall discovers her half-brother Uriah's dead body, she dons his clothes, and identity as castle librarian to forestall the loss of her cottage. With a second, then a third poisoning, Tiffany and Constable Samir Lathrop team up to identify the killer. While the plot is a little confusing, Penning is always cognizant of who's speaking, smoothly shifting from Tiffany to Uriah and back. From dual identities to poisonings, from secret lovers to shifting loyalties, this historical mystery engages the listener as Penning's slightly growly, emotion-laden voice captures the intrigue and underlying humor woven throughout.
Pub Date: 2023
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781666633559
Publisher: Dreamscape
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
Sir Derek Jacobi and Joe Jameson's stellar performances add sparkle and verisimilitude to this delightful locked-room mystery. The first adult book by Montgomery, an award-winning children's book author, is set in a Cornish manor house during the 1910 passing of Halley's Comet. Jacobi sets the semiserious tone with resonant action updates and intense performances of yesteryear news reports. Jameson remarkably personifies everyone. He broadens his vowels to inhabit our jailbird hero; pinches his voice into an octogenarian lady; puffs into an officious butler; and lightens into a young maid. The plot, involving death by crossbow, is crazy fun. The upstairs/downstairs subplot is moving. The writing is clever and witty. Jameson and Jacobi deliver a captivating performance that celebrates the tale's mix of drama and farce.
Pub Date: 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063458741
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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