People either love or hate Glasgow's unconventional DI Jack Laidlaw, who believes there are no monsters--only people. This 1977 mystery, focusing on the investigation of a girl's brutal murder, won the Crime Writers of America Silver Dagger and was the first entry in the tartan noir genre. The author-narrator has a heavy Scots accent. He adeptly enhances the rich narrative and wonderful dialogue, perfectly rendering the ironic comments and serious observations of the detectives. Tension accelerates when high-placed friends of the criminal and Laidlaw's team race each other to find the murderer fist. Most of the action takes place in pubs and outdoors, and audio gives listeners a real sense of being there as this tragic story unfolds. Unfortunately, sloppy production edits mars the otherwise solid audiobook.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781782110446
Publisher: Canongate
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Reader Michael Prichard delivers a convincing rendition of Archie Goodwin, the burly right hand of the portly Nero Wolfe, world-renowned gourmand and detective. Prichard preserves the 1970s setting and 1950s origins of the story, bringing listeners a well-paced narration of murder and politics--a combination of elements that usually guarantees an exciting listen. This audio entertainment is as well formed and fragrant as one of Wolfe's hothouse orchids (the stout sleuth cultivates them by the hundreds in his town house greenhouse) as Goodwin walks us through an explosive murder investigation and political wheeling and dealing in a tough yet intelligent read.
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This collection of eight short stories contains gentle tales of fantasy and magic--not the magic of wizards and wands, but of wishing mats and enormous cats and gifts brought by the winds. In a lovely English accent, Lizza Aiken quietly narrates these stories in which magic and good fortune often come to those who deserve it. Although her pitch changes little, she registers a range of emotions--from the sadness of a girl whose necklace of raindrops has been stolen to the joy of a child who moves from a hard life and a ramshackle trailer to a happy home amid the clouds. A NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS would make a soothing choice for a family car trip after a long day.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101915721
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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