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: May 16, 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
An absorbing and exciting listen, and historical fiction at its very best.
Sanjeev Bhaskar makes wonderful work of this brilliant, funny, and thought-provoking thriller. What happens when you mix those classics of Edwardian fiction, Sherlock Holmes and A.J. Raffles, with a mysterious character from the African jungle and recast the story’s narrator as law student Balvinder Singh? Add Winston Churchill to the mix, along with spirited suffragette Maud Adler, and you have the perfect cocktail of narrative delight, brought effortlessly to life by Bhaskar. Set in 1905, the high-water mark of the Edwardian empire, the story centers on the discovery of a grisly murder, which leads to the uncovering of a fiendish plot to attack British society. But which side will Singh be on?
An absorbing and exciting listen, and historical fiction at its very best.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781511388740
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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