A notable courtroom novel, FINAL VERDICT is told from the point of view of attorney Mike Daley, who is defending Leon Walker, a terminally ill man charged with a murder he claims he did not commit. Stephen Hoye's skillful reading is excellent, particularly his handling of Daley's parenthetical thoughts. These statements add little to the story and follow virtually every piece of dialogue. A lesser reader could have easily blurred the line between dialogue and thoughts; fortunately, Hoye uses pauses and makes minor changes to his tone, allowing the listener to separate Daley's unspoken views from what he actually says. Hoye clearly enjoys the story, and his enthusiasm makes Siegel's work thoroughly entertaining. D.J.S.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
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.
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