By the Pricking of My Thumbs

Macbeth's witches uttered the words used in this book's title, and well-chosen they were. The popular detective duo Tommy and Tuppence Beresford reappear after a thirty-year hiatus, still sleuthing in their golden years A visit to Tommy's aged Aunt Ada in a nursing home leads to a convoluted tale involving a mysterious painting, a missing tombstone, and the apparent kidnapping of Tuppence. Classic mystery elements--hidden documents and "nice" people with shadowy pasts--pop up unexpectedly as the Beresfords bravely pursue the truth. Excellent acting by Samantha Bond rounds out the listen. Bond effortlessly brings the characters to life with seamless voice work. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

The untimely death of his aunt in a posh nursing home leads Tommy Beresford and his wife, Tuppence, to a foreboding house, a mysterious painting and murder. Alex Jennings reads suspense, nuance and atmosphere into this enigmatic story entangled with numerous characters and myriad emotions. He meets the challenge of portraying multiple characters with apparent ease, establishing unique qualities for each one. His narration proceeds at an enjoyable pace, keeping the story moving at exactly the right speed for the plot's twists and turns. Jennings times the humor precisely to catch the subtlety of British wit. A reading not to be missed by mystery fans. P.A.J. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

The Audio Editions Mystery Masters series is a godsend. Classic masterpieces are made easily accessible with superb readers. What a find! Tommy and Tuppence visit Aunt Ada in her "old ladies home" shortly before her death. While there, Tuppence meets a mysterious lady who asks her about the dead child behind the fireplace. Suspicious, Tuppence tries to speak to her again when they return for Aunt Ada's things, only to discover that she's disappeared, leaving an oddly familiar painting behind. The game's afoot . . . oops, wrong detective. Alex Jennings does an excellent job capturing the calm, polite, preternaturally civil tone of an Agatha Christie world. Someone may have just koshed you on the head with a church flower urn, but that's no reason to go losing your temper or raising your voice. His performance whisks you away to an idealized England of rose gardens and brisk tea, and it's pure bliss to settle back and let him take you. D.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine