An assignment to deliver an heirloom jade Buddha to Hong Kong turns sour when a child is kidnapped and a family business appears to have connections with criminals. In this adventure PI Lydia Chin travels to China, accompanied by her business partner and pal, Bill Smith. Kathy Hsieh gives some veracity to Lydia, who is characterized by the author as a relentlessly upbeat Chinese-American. But Hsieh's frequent slurring of contractions, and occasional overcompensating, are distracting. More significantly, Hsieh isn't up to the task of portraying male characters. When reading the dialogue of tough guys like Bill Smith, she stretches her voice to a false baritone that sounds more silly than macho. A straight reading of these characters' lines would be preferable to turning them into caricatures.
Pub Date: 2007
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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.
