Narrator Allyson Ryan's nuanced performance conveys therapist and killer Ruby's emotional evolution in this captivating thriller. Ruby has gotten away with murder three times in as many decades, but it's not until her husband dies that suspicion lands on her. As she fights to clear her name of one murder she, ironically, didn't commit, she contemplates the lives she did take. Alternating between the present day in a Miami police department interrogation room and flashbacks to her upbringing in the city and, later, her Yale education, the story allows listeners to become acquainted with Ruby's logical mind and likable personality. Ryan's clear voice and even pace are consistent with Ruby's calm, confident demeanor. Frantic screams and a whispered apology as a witness recounts a statement amp up the drama in particularly tense scenes.
Pub Date: April 19, 2022
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593553039
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Halstead handles moments of unease with restraint as Nicholas gets closer to the truth.
Graham Halstead delivers a hair-raising performance in this classic whodunit, which takes place on the remote tip of Cape Cod. Halstead makes the most of a familiar setup as Nicholas, a ghostwriter, arrives during the holidays to help a famous writer finish a book. Halstead gives the various guests and family members distinct vocal identities, which helps the listener clarify their relationships and competing motives. He plays up the raucousness in scene after scene, including the drunken evening that ends in two deaths. Halstead then switches to a measured pace that allows suspicion to build gradually as Nicholas gathers clues.
Halstead handles moments of unease with restraint as Nicholas gets closer to the truth.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 34 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063433694
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
Howard maintains tight suspense until the very end.
Florence Howard gives this period mystery a poised, atmospheric performance that suits its glittering, dangerous setting. On the opening night of a grand hotel in 1926 London, Diana Gold welcomes an eclectic crowd while awaiting two influential figures from her past. Howard creates a confident, commanding persona for Diana, with subtle undertones that suggest unease. Howard ratchets up the tension when a guest is discovered dead. Howard plays up the whodunit staples as the celebration turns into a search for answers when hidden motives emerge among those gathered. She distinguishes the vast cast through changes in cadence and vocal texture, keeping the listener grounded. Her pacing gathers momentum as revelations surface and suspicion jumps between the guests and staff.
Howard maintains tight suspense until the very end.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 10 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488237980
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
