The second in this historical mystery series is set in 1583, the year of the Great Conjunction, an astrological phenomenon occurring once every thousand years, presaging the end of an era. When one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting is strangled, an astrological sign carved into her breast and a doll resembling Queen Elizabeth I clutched in her hand, Francis Walsingham employs defrocked Italian monk, philosopher, and spy Giordano Bruno to investigate. John Lee’s performance as Bruno makes PROPHECY a delicious wallow in court intrigue, the occult, and murder. Lee’s characters are singular, multilayered, and credible. His accents are as well developed as his characters. While there’s enough backstory to make this second Bruno adventure accessible, listening to HERESY first will make this a richer experience.
Pub Date: May 3, 2011
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307714411
Publisher: Random House 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.
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