Maggie Hope returns in this sequel to MR. CHURCHILL'S SECRETARY. After failing the physical endurance requirement to become a WWII spy, she's sent to Windsor Castle as a math tutor for Princess Elizabeth. Narrator Susan Duerden deftly captures this upstairs-downstairs glimpse of the royal residence. The unusual accent she gives Maggie is ideal--the character was born in England but raised in Boston. Also, Duerden's rendering of Princess Elizabeth's inner voice is natural and adds to her distinctiveness. Overall, Princess Elizabeth sounds warm and thoughtful while her sister, Princess Margaret, sounds cool and manipulative. Most compelling is Falconer Berners, who helps Maggie close in on a traitor within the castle walls. Listeners will look forward to additions to the series.
Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2012
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780449808504
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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