Suzanne Berne has written an insightful, if disturbing, look at a family whose lives are built upon the pretense of perfection. Alexandra O'Karma draws us into the lives of the Cook-Goldmans with frightening intimacy. Her breathy whisper mirrors Mirella's dilemma as she vacillates between tending to the needs of her children and having her own exciting career. Berne traces Howard and Mirella's search for a nanny for their children; their reliance upon Randi, who seems to create harmony where there was discord; and the terrible consequences of relinquishing control for the sake of convenience. O'Karma narrates interior monologues in desperate, somber tones and helps personalities leap to life in sections of dialogue. Berne's elegant prose candidly explores the secrets buried in our darker natures.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
John Sanford is back with another psychological thriller in his Prey series. Surgeon, psychopath and serial killer Bekker is on the loose again after the easiest jailbreak in recent memory. Ken Howard's reading moves along with all the brooding energy a reader could want from a suspense book. His narration is deep, clear and well-suited to the gravelly voices of retired detective Lucas Davenport and the other cops. While Howard manages good dialects and shifts in character, his female voices leave a lot to be desired. For the most part, the abridgment gleefully throws logic and characterization overboard in favor of thrills, but the basic flavor of many characters is still fairly well maintained.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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