Skillfully woven backstory allows newcomers to jump right in here without missing a beat.
Narrator Cathleen McCarron returns to deliver a totally engaging listening experience in McDermid’s eighth installment of the Karen Pirie series. McCarron’s command of Scottish accents, coupled with her ability to shift seamlessly between male and female characters, draws listeners in and keeps them glued to their earbuds. Pirie, chief of Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, and her capable team investigate a body dislodged from a rain-damaged motorway while also focusing on a supposed accidental death case. Listeners will enjoy the interplay among Pirie and her colleagues as they take bold measures to bring justice to victims’ families. McCarron’s assured narration heightens the procedural tensions and the emotional stakes.
Skillfully woven backstory allows newcomers to jump right in here without missing a beat.Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668170786
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
This addition to the series is Cleeves at her best.
Narrator Jack Holden draws listeners into this complex murder investigation led by Detective Matthew Venn and his team. Seventeen-year-old Charlotte (Lottie) and Hannah have come to Devon, England to celebrate the completion of their school year, staying at Hannah’s family vacation home. When Lottie is found dead in the swimming pool, the search begins for Hannah, who seems to have disappeared. Hannah’s father, a prominent politician, raises the profile of the investigation. Listeners follow along as Venn and his team chase down leads, uncover dark past events, explore current relationships, and dive into the black hole of social media. Holden masterfully delivers the atmospheric settings, complicated personalities, and compelling story.
This addition to the series is Cleeves at her best.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 33 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250452078
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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