Mark Deakins’s portrayal of famous lawman Eliot Ness is almost untouchable. It's glib, agile, and sometimes stilted. But so was Ness. Deakins plays Ness as moody, publicity seeking, and detached; the story’s evildoer he depicts as dark and menacing. William Bernhardt, who writes legal thrillers, has switched gears to produce a book about an actual series of grotesque murders—dubbed “The Torso Murders”—which occurred in Cleveland, Ohio, 1935-38. Ness, who was hired as public safety director in Cleveland after achieving fame for imprisoning gangster Al Capone, is drawn into the pursuit of the killer. Deakins portrays Ness as the enigma he was; he's really smart about some things—like captivating the press—but totally clueless about others—like pleasing his lonely wife. Still for those of us who were once touched by “The Untouchables," Berhardt and Deakins add another dimension to their story.
Pub Date: 2009
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
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.
