Scottish actor Lauren Lyle brings a subtle touch to this audiobook, set in Edinburgh and featuring DCI Karen Pirie, the character Lyle also plays in the television series. Pirie and her team are in lockdown during the early days of Covid when they're drawn into a barely cold case involving a student's disappearance and a dead author's unfinished manuscript that seems to lay out exactly what happened to the young woman. Lyle generally eschews big swings in tone and pitch, though her characters are satisfying and easily distinguishable. She is also consistently steady in the narrative portions of the book, though some listeners may wish for a bit more variety. Overall, Lyle gives a very good interpretation of a very good story.
Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2023
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798890593788
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ericksen’s performance makes for a lively listening experience.
Narrator Susan Ericksen transports the listener to 2060s New York City, where Lt. Eve Dallas is investigating the murder of scientist Larry Chu, who was found brutally beaten to death. The case takes Dallas to the secretive, power-hungry company that Chu worked for. As the longtime narrator of this long-running series, Ericksen has established voices for the main characters, and she’s just as skillful performing secondary characters. She brings a haughty arrogance to her portrayal of Chu’s employer. Dallas is aided in her investigation by her Irish husband, Roarke, for whom Ericksen adds a hint of Irish lilt.
Ericksen’s performance makes for a lively listening experience.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250446671
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
A mystery that loves its plot twists more than its characters.
Simon Vance sure-footedly guides listeners through the labyrinth of this mystery. Though it opens in Stockholm in 2008, the novel frequently flashes back to an unsolved 1980s murder, when a road trip taken by two friends culminated in the brutal killing of a young woman in Santander, Spain. Decades later, a Spanish detective who suspects the murder was related to a string of homicides approaches investigators Hans Rekke and Micaela Vargas for help. Despite Vance’s distinctive voices and accents, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between the past and present storylines. The convoluted plot and crowded cast of characters, few of whom are relatable, require immense concentration; while some listeners will have the patience, others will find that the resolution isn't worth the effort.
A mystery that loves its plot twists more than its characters.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 39 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406692
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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