William Dufris, an outstanding narrator, pours empathy and a unique style into his characterizations. Lawyer/detective Paul Madriani, a well-developed, thoughtful hero, hears as a fellow lawyer, the outrageous Nick Rush, is fatally shot outside the courthouse in San Diego. Madriani uncovers a sordid tale in attempting to find out who killed Nick and why. Dufris develops vocal characterizations for the various greedy lowlifes, police detectives, ex-wives, and lawyers. The heart of the mystery involves Colombia--not drugs, as one might expect, but priceless pre-Columbian art--and leads Madriani to Cancún and Guatemala. Dufris handles both the twisted, action-packed plot and the accents with finesse, using pauses and vocal shifts effectively. A legal mystery par excellence.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 15 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Sound Library
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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