Discover New Releases Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

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Title: The Mexican Saddle

Author: Bennett Foster

Narrator: Jeff Harding

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-17

Publisher: Isis Publishing Ltd

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

After their friend is murdered, trail partners Jim and Waco discover that the old Mexican saddle he left with them might just be more important than they first realised....

Members Reviews:

Five Stars

must read

Four Stars

Good little story & characters.

A Pulp Western with a touch of mystery

This is an interesting little Western set well outside the usual time period for the genre (in Mexico, Porfirio Diaz is "on the way out," which sets the story solidly in 1911, and one of the major characters carries a Krag rifle, first widely used during the Spanish-American War). It was originally published serially in Smith's weekly "Western Story," but was apparently never before brought out in book form. It is also the first example of Foster's writing--certainly the first novel by him--that I can remember reading.

Jim Barre, a former Texas Ranger, and his partner, Waco Ibold, are in Carver City, Texas, at the close of the working season, jobless and with only a hundred-dollar stake (the money is Jim's). Waco suggests that they use the money to outfit themselves as wolfers and spend the winter making a stake--but Jim has already lent the hundred to Dale Clark, a fellow cowhand, who in turn has left as security a battered old Mexican saddle displayed for sale in a local shop window at a price of $10. Then Clark is found dead, having obviously been strenuously questioned by person or persons unknown--on the very day his twin sister Marilee arrives in town. Next a ranch owner named Tayler (formerly the partner of the Clarks' late father, who was killed in Mexico while on his way home from having discovered a lode of wire gold) approaches Waco with an offer to buy Jim's saddle for $150. Seeing visions of stake money, Waco sells him, not the old Mexican hull, but Jim's good $100 saddle, and they gather up an outfit and head into the Chisos to trap wolves. Happening upon a stone shack where something sinister is going on (as a desperate cry from within testifies), they are shot at and driven off, then proceed to Gaskin's Crossroads, a trailside store run by the Clarks' uncle, where they find Ranger Captain Ringgold and a force of 10, whose assignment it is to try to keep the anti-Diaz excitement from spilling northward. Gradually they discover that the old Mexican saddle is supposed by more than one person to conceal some secret hint to the location of Clark's lost gold mine, and that everyone and his brother--Tayler, a Carver City deputy named Stupe Waddell, a Mexican bandido-revolutionary who goes by Agapito deGriego--seems to want to get his hands on it. A cross-Border gunrunning scheme and the possibility that Tayler actually stole the ranch from the young Clarks add even more complications.

As might be expected in a story written for the pulps, Foster concentrates much more on action than on character; there is little explanatory depth to his people, except when we learn that Jim left the Rangers because he was forced to go after a man who had once been his friend, and his romance with Marilee Clark seems very sudden, almost as if Marilee herself was added to the story as a convenient pawn or because a love story of some kind was expected in any pulp Western.

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Title: Man Behind the Gun

Author: Lauran Paine

Narrator: Jeff Harding

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-17

Publisher: Isis Publishing Ltd

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Amos Swift's two sons find their father dead. Jason tells Amos to prepare the body for burial - while he, knowing the murderer's identity, sets out to even the score himself....

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Title: The Vanishing Box

Subtitle: Stephens and Mephisto Mystery 4

Author: Elly Griffiths

Narrator: Luke Thompson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-02-17

Publisher: Quercus

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

What do a murdered Brighton flower seller, the death of Cleopatra and a nude tableau show have in common? One thing's for sure - it could be the most dangerous case yet for Stephens and Mephisto.

The fourth Stephens and Mephisto mystery from the author of the best-selling Dr Ruth Galloway series - a must-listen for fans of Bryant and May.

Christmas 1953. Max Mephisto and his daughter, Ruby, are headlining Brighton Hippodrome, an achievement only slightly marred by the less-than-savoury support act: a tableau show of naked 'living statues'.

This might appear to have nothing in common with DI Edgar Stephens' investigation into the death of a quiet flower seller, but if there's one thing the old comrades have learned it's that in Brighton, the line between art and life - and death - is all too easily blurred....

Critic Reviews:

"Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie." (Sunday Express on Smoke and Mirrors)

Members Reviews:

Wonderful period detail

I love this series of books, and this one did not disappoint. Good story with great period details. Love the theatrical background, landladies and boarding houses. The characters are interesting and likeable. It is set in the winter and Elly even manages to make you feel cold. You can read this on its own but I recommend you read the series in order.

Another excellent adventure

The stories get more mature with each book. I didn't guess the perpetrator at all.

Good old fashioned murder mystery

I love the murder mysteries by this author. Hope there is more Stephens and Mephisto.

Slow and disappointing

Dull story so slow I gave up in the end pity sounded promising for me it just never got going

Entertaining read.

A good story with solid dependable & consistently portrayed characters and a plot with the inevitable twist well worthy of four stars.

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Title: Seven Little Crosses in a Notebook [Russian Edition]

Author: Georges Simenon

Narrator: Yury Yakovlev, Evgeny Vesnik, Valentin Nikulin, Rostislav Plyatt, Valentina Sperantova, Makhail Manevich, Leonid Kanevsky

Format: Abridged

Length: 1 hr and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-17

Publisher: IDDK

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

(. Georges Joseph Christian Simenon, 1903 - 1989) - , .

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.

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:

1963 .

Please note: This audiobook is in Russian.

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Title: This Side of Murder

Subtitle: A Verity Kent Mystery, Book 1

Author: Anna Lee Huber

Narrator: Jilly Bond

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Lamplight Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

England, 1919. Verity Kent's grief over the loss of her husband pierces anew when she receives a cryptic letter, suggesting her beloved Sidney may have committed treason before his untimely death.

Lured to Umbersea Island to attend the engagement party of one of Sidney's fellow officers, Verity mingles among the men her husband once fought beside, discovering dark secrets and the shattering possibility that her husband may not have been the man she thought he was....

Members Reviews:

Don't waste your time or money on this

A drippy, soppy story, terribly narrated. I really don't know why I bothered to finish this. The female narrator with a plumb in her mouth does a very bad job of all the male characters. The story is so weak. If this is the first of a series, it will be the last of the series for me.

Awful nonsense

I nearly returned this book after about 5 minutes but thought, to be fair, that I should give it a bit longer. I was doing other things while listening so I ended up hearing it all. Agatha Christie-esque plot with red herrings at one moment and the blindingly obvious the next. The heroine is supposed to have been a spy but shes not the brightest and has to keep being helped out by men. Her relationship with her narcissistic and obsessed dead husband would have friends calling for an injunction. But hey, its just a book.

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Title: The Reckoning

Author: James McGee

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-24-17

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The sixth historical thriller featuring Matthew Hawkwood, Bow Street Runner and Spy, now hunting a killer on the loose in Regency London.

London, 1813: Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood is summoned to a burial ground and finds the corpse of a young woman murdered and cast into an open grave.

At first the death is deemed to be of little consequence. But when Chief Magistrate James Read receives a direct order from the Home Office to abandon the case, Hawkwood's interest is piqued.

His hunt for the killer will lead him from London's backstreets into the heart of a government determined to protect its secrets at all costs. Only Hawkwood's contacts within the criminal underworld can now help.

As the truth behind the girl's murder emerges, setting in motion a deadly chain of events, Hawkwood learns the true meaning of loyalty - and that the enemy is much closer to home than he ever imagined....

Critic Reviews:

"Irresistible...rambunctious entertainment." (Observer)

"Rumbustious...a darkly attractive hero, terrific period atmosphere and action." (The Times)

"Atmospheric and well researched...try it." (Daily Mirror)

Members Reviews:

Gripping novel set during the Napoleon Wars

Another gripping novel in the series set during the Napoleonic Wars. Matthew Hawkwood, ex-army Rifleman and now one of Bow Street's Principal Officers, is assigned to solve the murder of a prostitute horribly tortured and tossed into an open grave. He discovers an apparent link with similar murders, but his superior, Chief Magistrate James Read, is forced by secret political pressure to drop the investigation. At the risk of his own life and that of his woman, Hawkwood and his allies race to capture the fleeing murderer in a ferocious conclusion.

This series will appeal to anyone who loves meticulously researched historical novels full of action and adventure. Bring on the next one!

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Title: North Side Hellion

Author: Ben Broeren

Narrator: Philip Benoit

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-17

Publisher: Benjamin D. Broeren

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Aiden McCarthy enjoys thieving and scheming much more than abiding by the morals of his Catholic, Irish-American, working-class parents. He has always been a pisser, but working for the North Side Gang feeds his youthful desire for action, rebellion, and romance.

When Aiden's pa is injured in crossfire between Italian gangsters, he must balance adventure with duty to family. With his interest in the daughter of one of the Italians and a sense of justice in the midst of gangland competition, he must find his way through undercurrents of lust, social upheaval, and rebellion against Prohibition.

Aiden McCarthy's story intertwines with Irish-American gang leader Dean O'Banion, a young Alphonse Capone, John Torrio, and other historical figures in this Jazz Age tapestry to satisfy adventure-seekers, romantics and history-lovers alike.

Members Reviews:

Character-driven Chicago history

North Side Hellion features a delightful array of interesting and relateable characters who interact with each other in realistic ways. The plot moves forward as they develop personally and as aspects of their pasts are revealed. The Chicago history is also realistic, written to allow the trends and events to shine through without an air of scandal. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it!

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Title: Running Cold

Subtitle: The Griffon Master Book 3

Author: Steve Zell

Narrator: Steve Zell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-17

Publisher: Tales From Zell, Inc.

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

An ancient gift turns nightmarish for a young mother in 60's-era Southern California. Mourning the loss of her husband and oldest child, Brit Helm struggles to create a new and normal life for her youngest boy, Michael, in a small beach town. But the intrusion of a pretty surfer threatens to shatter any hope of maintaining control, and control him she must. Michael isn't like other boys. When Michael gets angry his blood runs cold, and terrible things can happen.

Members Reviews:

Strange With No Point

This story started with one son, Nick, being cruel to his little brother, Michael. It becomes so extreme that Michael explodes like a bottle rocket and changes form, then kills Nick. It seems that the boys' mother has known since birth that there was something strange about Michael. The story becomes more and more confusing. Michael and his mother are killed by a man just released from prison. People go by the house but on one is there, except when Michael's dead mother appears in their old house and warns Sandy, a friend of Michaels. Michael's changed form appears at a talent show and starts attacking and killing people because they made fun of his friend when he sang. Soon, the creatures in Nick's paintings start appearing to Sandy. His dead mother tells Sandy the paintings were made by Michael not Nick. Then she tells Sandy Michael killed his brother but if he'd just start painting again all would be well.

I failed to find any kind of story that made sense in this book. I forced myself to read the entire book trying to find a discernible plot, but failed to find one. Don't waste your time on this book unless you enjoy books that don't make sense.

About Flippin' time!!! Zell does it again!

Wizrd brought terrific images of the American Southwest, written very much in the style of "old" Stephen King before he started writing the later schlock that no one seems to like.

Zell had me wanting to find Pinion Rim and Cody...just because the book makes it all seem so familiar.

I've just now downloaded Running Cold, and am into the first 30 pages and already intrigued. Once again, Zell strikes very close to home (so far). Can't wait to finish this by tonight!!

Gripping! Awaiting the sequel...

I distinguish between âauthors,â who have a book and âwriters,â who have a way with words. Steve Zell qualifies as the latter, meaning he meets a more-demanding standard. Running Cold showcases unique, descriptive phrasing and embellishing imagery. BewareâItâs not for the faint-hearted as sinister forces commandeer young innocents. Get set for a quirky amalgam that proves gripping. Iâm already in line for the sequel!

Awesome! Rich and compelling....

Steve has created rich and soulful young characters around a fictional beach community in Southern California in the sixties. There is simultaneously something naive, yet unsettling about a newcomer to the community and his impact on all people around him that moves the story forward. Vivid and human character descriptions compel you to care about the characters and their progression through the engaging narrative. The storyline is unique and gripping - I couldn't put it down....

excellent

I have been reading horror for pushing forty years, and I do not remember the last time that I sat up right reading with my eyes wide open.

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Title: The Black Friar

Subtitle: Damian Seeker 2

Author: S. G. MacLean

Narrator: Jonathan Keeble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-27-17

Publisher: Quercus

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Rebellion in the city and a Royalist spy in his own ranks - Damian Seeker, Captain of Oliver Cromwell's guard, must eradicate both in this action-packed historical thriller for fans of CJ Sansom, Rory Clements and The Three Musketeers.

London, 1655, and Cromwell's regime is under threat from all sides. Damian Seeker, Captain of Cromwell's Guard, is all too aware of the danger facing Cromwell. Parliament resents his control of the army while the army resents his absolute power. In the East End of London, a group of religious fanatics plots rebellion. In the midst of all this, a stonemason uncovers a perfectly preserved body dressed in the robes of a Dominican friar, bricked up in a wall in the crumbling Black Friars.

Ill-informed rumours and speculation abound, but Seeker instantly recognises the dead man. What he must discover is why he met such a hideous end and what his connection was to the children who have started to disappear from around the city. Unravelling these mysteries is challenging enough and made still harder by the activities of dissenters at home, Royalist plotters abroad and individuals who are not what they seem....

Critic Reviews:

"MacLean skilfully weaves together the disparate threads of her plot to create a gripping tale of crime and sedition in an unsettled city." (Sunday Times)

Members Reviews:

Can't wait for the next one

I really enjoyed this, good story, lots of twists and turns, interesting characters.

The narrator was very good too.

A complex time & a complex man

The setting is so fascinating. I was initially put off by it being Cromwell's Protectorate but it wasn't what I expected. The characters are well drawn and complex. The plot is more straight forward than the first book, but still interesting. The narrator is pleasant and the pace good. Highly recommended.

An excellent sequel to "The Seeker"!

Another brilliant story with be characters. And outstanding narration. I hope that there are more books to come in the series.

So good I was sorry when it ended

A gripping, multi-stranded plot, a gifted author and vividly depicted characters, all set in a fascinating historical context. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Series hits its stride

The first Seeker novel had promise but the characters took time to warm to, not helped by a poor narrator. With a change of narrator this second Seeker novel is wonderful. An interesting collection of characters is beginning to develop and the central character of Damien Seeker is becoming intriguing in his complexity. The historical setting is well researched and believable and a fascinating period to get drawn into. I enjoyed every minute and will be waiting impatiently for the next instalment.

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Title: The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde

Author: Eve Chase

Narrator: Karen Cass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-13-17

Publisher: Lamplight Audio

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Present day: Applecote Manor captivates Jessie with dreams of hazy summers in the Cotswolds, but the house has an unsettling history, and strange rumours surround the estate....

The '50s: When teenage Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote during the heatwave of '59, they find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter, Audrey, five years before. Drawn into the life Audrey left behind, the stifling summer takes a shocking, deadly turn.

Critic Reviews:

"A haunting mystery about the secrets of the past, the bonds within families, and the hidden ties that connect people across time. A story to be savoured, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde is a book I'll be recommending to everyone I know." (Megan Miranda, best-selling author of All The Missing Girls)

"Expertly crafted, dark, beautiful and utterly enthralling." (Rowan Coleman, best-selling author)

Members Reviews:

A stunning novel that will take your breath away

Evocative, beautiful, and heartbreaking are just some of the words that I would use to describe this breathtaking novel but even they do not do it the justice it requires.

In the present day, we meet Jessie and her husband Will, whom she adores, her little girl Romy, and her angry step-daughter Bella. Determined to find happiness together as a family, Jessie is convinced that a fresh start in the countryside will help Bella overcome her resentment and accept Jessie and Romy as part of her life. So when she crosses the threshold of Applecote Manor, she is instantly captivated by all it has to offer, and desperately hopes that it will work its magic on Bella who is clinging to her old life when her mother was alive. But something lingers in the old rooms of this old house, a memory from the past which has never truly been unravelled...

Switching back to the past and we become immersed in the lives of the Wilde sisters as they prepare to return to their Aunt and Uncle's home, Applecote Manor, for the summer, but this time it holds no appeal. For five years ago their cousin Audrey disappeared without a trace from the grounds and the Wilde's have never been back since. When they arrive, they soon discover that a lot has changed and there is a melancholy and dangerous air that permeates throughout the estate. And as interesting faces appear which seem sure to offer some entertainment, one sister will take on the quest to uncover the truth, with shocking consequences.

THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE by Eve Chase was so much more than I expected and the deeper I fell into the story, the more it captured my imagination. The dual timeline is excellently portrayed with so many similarities between characters even though time has separated them. The devastation of losing a child and never knowing what happened is effortlessly conveyed and my heart broke at times when reading this book, and the unshakeable bond of sisterhood is a theme which is given great power. But most of all it is a story of family, love, and the fact that you cannot escape the past until you confront it.

You know when you read a book that is just so superb that you need a moment to readjust back into your everyday life when you finish reading the final line? Well, that is how THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE by Eve Chase made me feel. A phenomenal story that you cannot miss out on.