Detective "Scorcher" Kennedy keeps his cases at the Dublin Murder Squad under tight control, producing the squad's highest "solve" rate. Stephen Hogan similarly takes control of this narration—hard and fast, leaving nothing to chance. Like Kennedy with his perps, it sometimes feels like a stranglehold. The murder of a lovely family in an isolated housing development brings Scorcher many questions and few answers, and each chapter ratchets up the suspense of possibilities. Hogan clearly plays Scorcher's rookie partner as an interesting foil to the veteran's hard line but without easing a rather incessant energy. The writing ebbs and flows, but Hogan makes small misses of subtlety, keeping this performance from perfect form. However, the crime, the suspense, and the "solve" will keep listeners riveted.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 20 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781464042805
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: July 13, 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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