Narrator Susan Duerden returns to portray the feisty and rebellious former S.O.E. (Special Operations) agent Maggie Hope, who is working out her inner demons by dismantling bombs, heavily drinking, smoking, and recklessly racing her scooter. Duerden's talent for accents allows her to effectively voice Maggie's current love interest, Scottish Chief Inspector James Durgin, as well as a crew of male and female characters from Europe and America. Author MacNeal masterfully draws on all the senses to portray London in the midst of WWII. She introduces us to the challenges faced by Britalians (British-Italians) and conscientious objectors. While the plot builds on the characters, good and evil, from previous books in the series, new listeners are provided enough backstory to catch on.
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524782528
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
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.
