The husband-and-wife writing duo Wahlöö and Sjöwall were popular in the 1970s. In this mystery, Inspector Martin Beck of the Stockholm Homicide Squad investigates the disappearance of a well-known Swedish journalist in Budapest. Absent from his native Stockholm, Beck encounters not only the drama of the Eastern European underworld and international crime but also a rich travel experience as he, by necessity, delves into Hungarian life. The depth of Tom Weiner's masculine timbre accurately brings the flawed, depressed Beck to the mind's eye. Weiner’s oft-used monotone is reminiscent of early noir cinema, and he skillfully employs a lightness of tone when vocalizing women's voices. However, the listener might enjoy the realism of this procedural fractionally more if it were delivered by a narrator with a Scandinavian accent.
Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2008
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Benet Archdale and housemaid Carol Stratford are two young, single parents who have no reason to know each other. They become tangled in a nightmarish spiral of kidnap, fraud, family violence and death. Ruth Rendell creates psychological suspense in thrillers that are compulsively readable or, in this case, listenable. British actress Imelda Staunton's reading is perfectly paced, and the characters are well defined. You'll have a hard time turning it off.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emerson and Peabody are at it again! Uncovering antiquities takes a back-seat as the romantic archaeologists track down the master criminal who is stealing Egypt's ancient treasures. With the help of their precocious son, Ramses, the intrepid pair unravel this mystery in crowded bazaars, desert camps and the heart of the Black Pyramid. Barbara Rosenblat's reading fully measures up to the tale. She is a master of timing and nuance. Rosenblat's power for character interpretation has grown with each book in this amusing series. This is the best one yet.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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.
