Jane Austen, author of such classics as PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, is the fictional protagonist of this mystery in which a British naval officer is charged with murder and sentenced to hang. Austen, convinced of his innocence, traverses dangerous and seedy settings in pursuit of truth. Those who prefer nonstop action might tire of the slow pace and historical details (with footnotes). But the language is delicious, the characterizations layered and the plot full of surprises. Kate Reading's narration quietly underscores the Austen-esque humor and captures the quirkiness of a wide array of characters. She shines at moving along briskly while still taking time to savor the language.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 10 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
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