In 1907 New York, Lady Philomena, the adventurous 25-year-old Dowager Countess of Dunbridge, once again is called upon by her benefactor to investigate a murder. Narrator Erin Bennett expertly guides listeners through various social strata when the heir to a steel magnate is murdered at a debutante ball. Bennett gives listeners a view of the various classes of the Gilded Age, including the cream of society, their servants, a detective, and street urchins. Notable characters include Philomena's feisty lady's maid; her staid butler, who has many surprising gifts; and the newsboy known as "Just a Friend." With the murderer's many potential motives, Bennett must make even complex financial issues comprehensible to listeners. She keeps the suspense building until the last minute.
Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250243331
Publisher: Macmillan 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.
