Simon Vance's narration evokes the ambiance of the Soviet Union of 1936, when this novel is set. If it were a color, it would be a smoke-stained gray. But that doesn't mean his voice is flat and expressionless. It merely reflects the surroundings and the dark tone of the story. Vance gives the Russian speakers a touch of a Slavic accent to differentiate them from the American characters. This allows the listener to distinguish characters easily during dialogue. The plot involves murders surrounding the international trafficking of religious icons. The mystery itself carries the listener along nicely as the hero, a Moscow police detective, unravels the clues.
Pub Date: Aug. 31, 2010
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427210401
Publisher: Macmillan 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.
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