Narrator Antonia Beamish's delightful performance highlights the fun of this new mystery series set in a small French town. Middle-aged, newly divorced Penny buys a country house in Provence, looking forward to a relaxing retirement from the forensics lab of the British Home Office. When a body is discovered floating in her pool, the police say it was an accidental drowning, but Penny thinks it was murder and resolves to prove it. Beamish's capable dialogue has a hint of a theatrical tone as she captures the characters' quirky personalities. Her French accents set the mood, and the narrative is clear and engaging. Penny's background makes her a natural for amateur sleuthing as she makes new friends and samples local pastries.
Pub Date: Feb. 19, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062894793
Publisher: Harper Audio
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.
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.
