The Cuban Missile Crisis had Americans flocking to church in droves as the Russians ferried atomic warheads to the island nation just 90 miles from Florida. The crisis ended quickly and decisively, but was there more to the story? William F. Buckley, Jr., opines that President Kennedy had some help from the dashing diplomat Blackford Oakes. He sent Oakes to Havana to negotiate with Fidel and Raul Castro and Che Guevara for a peaceful end to the standoff. Narrator Geoffrey Blaisdell has a sophisticated style. His wry, and often dry, performance is engaging and keeps the listener glued to the story, which takes Oakes from the boardroom to the brig—and a date with a Cuban firing squad.
Pub Date: 2009
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN:
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:
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:
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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