Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library.
Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."
The Friendly Persuasion RC 39935
Tunnel of Love RC 40290
by Hilma Wolitzer
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Hearts, Linda Reismann--twenty-seven,
newly widowed, and pregnant--and Robin, her thirteen-year-old
stepdaughter, have just arrived in Los Angeles. They hope to
begin a new life and establish a less volatile relationship. But
fate has more trouble in store for both--robbery, murder, a car
accident, and a custody battle. Strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1994.
A Little Yellow Dog RC 40994
by Walter Mosley
read by Phil Regensdorf
2 cassettes
It is 1963 and Easy Rawlins has given up the mean streets for a
steady job and a stable life with his adopted kids. But when he
tries to help a woman in distress, his security is shattered,
and he must go back to the streets to clear his name. Strong
language, violence, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
Beauty's Release RC 41076
by A.N. Roquelaure
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
Anne Rice, writing as A.N. Roquelaure, concludes her trilogy the
Erotic Adventures of Sleeping Beauty. Beauty and her beloved,
the slave Tristan, have been taken captive by a sultan, who
imprisons her in his harem. Sequel to Beauty's Punishment (RC
40644). Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions
of sex. 1985.
The Shadow of His Wings: The Appomattox Saga, Book 6 RC
41584
by Gilbert Morris
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Rooney Smith is a young woman in trouble who has fled to
Richmond to begin a new life. She meets Lowell Rocklin after he
is wounded and taken to a Richmond hospital. While recovering,
Lowell tells Rooney of his plans to make an observation hot-air
balloon to help the Confederate Army. They build the balloon,
but then fate steps in and deals them a severe blow. Sequel to
Out of the Whirlwind (RC 41583). 1994.
People of the Lakes: The First North Americans, Volume 6 RC
41693
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
read by Jim Zeiger
6 cassettes
The Mask, an evil spirit among the Hopewell Mound Builders, now
has complete control of Mica Bird. For peace to be restored, his
wife, Star Shell, must take the Mask to the Great Lakes and
throw it into the Roaring Waters. For Star Shell it is a race
against time. Sequel to People of the Sea (RC 41692).
Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. For
senior high and older readers. 1994.
Stone of Tears: The Sword of Truth, Book 2 RC 41792
by Terry Goodkind
read by Nick Sullivan
7 cassettes
In this sequel to Wizard's First Rule (RC 41067),
reluctant sorcerer Richard Cypher discovers that the evil Darken
Rahl was his father. At Rahl's death the veil to the underworld
was torn, threatening to make the world a living hell. Richard's
destiny is to repair the veil--but at a terrible price. Strong
language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1995.
The People's Choice RC 42310
by Jeff Greenfield
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
When the president-elect dies in a freak accident just two days
after his election, many fear that the departed's dim-witted
running mate will accede to the top post. Constitutional chaos
ensues as the electoral college process unfolds and insiders vie
to influence the outcome. Political wit and satire abound. 1995.
The California Trail: Trail Drive Series, Book 5 RC
42479
by Ralph Compton
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
After their exploits in Mexico on The Bandera Trail (RC
41983), Gil and Van Austin return to the Texas ranch with
cattle. Now the Gold Rush in California has created an
unprecedented demand for beef, and the adventurous brothers see
the opportunity of a lifetime. In 1850, they set off to drive
four thousand head of cattle westward, not knowing the dangers
that lie ahead. Violence and strong language. 1994.
A Dead Man in Deptford RC 42540
by Anthony Burgess
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
A fictionalized life of Elizabethan playwright and poet
Christopher Marlowe, depicting his homosexuality, his espionage
for the crown, and his early death in a bar brawl. Using the
diction of the period, Burgess celebrates the life of the great
artist, whom he calls "the Muse's darling." 1993.
Games of the Hangman RC 42613
by Victor O'Reilly
read by Ray Foushee
4 cassettes
A fast-moving story of international terrorism. War photographer
Hugo Fitzduane discovers a boy's body hanging from a tree on
Fitzduane's own property, an apparent suicide. But when the body
of a slain terrorist is found with the same tattoo that marked
the hanged boy, the chase begins. Strong language, violence, and
descriptions of sex. 1991.
The Collected Stories of Evan S. Connell RC 42624
by Evan S. Connell
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
Short stories composed over a period of fifty years, many of
which are critical of political reactionaries and the American
middle class. The lead story, "Arcturus," depicts the
conflicts and veiled emotions between a husband and his wife's
former suitor at a dinner party. Strong language. 1995.
Out of Control RC 42629
by G. Gordon Liddy
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The former FBI agent and Watergate conspirator offers a novel of
political intrigue set in the world of high finance. In an
attempt to expose suspected KGB agent Ballinger, the CIA turns
to Rick Rand, once of CIA and now a successful financier, who
allegedly has connections to Mafia and Chinese Tong crime
families. Rand plans a tough scheme. Strong language. 1979.
Homecoming: The Holts; an American Dynasty, Volume 9 RC
42633
by Dana Fuller Ross
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Pacific Destiny (RC 38606), Henry Blake
is discouraged by the protracted war in Manila, but falls in
love with a local woman. Frank returns from the Yukon, only to
be drawn back to the West. Aspiring artist India Blackstone must
fight to pursue her dreams. Strong language, some violence, and
some descriptions of sex. 1994.
Little Dorrit RC 42796
by Charles Dickens
read by Vanessa Maroney
7 cassettes (Reissue)
Classic nineteenth-century novel portrays a changing society and
prison life. William Dorrit, who owes money, lives in debtor
prison at Marshalsea with his children Edward, Fanny, and
Amy--known as Little Dorrit. Amy falls in love with and marries
her middle-aged benefactor. 1857.
Sleeper Spy RC 42851
by William Safire
read by Chuck Benson
3 cassettes
The cold war is past and the Russian government has lost track
of a sleeper agent the KGB long ago placed in the U.S. to invest
a fortune in capital markets. Not only is cash-strapped Moscow
out to recover the billions invested, but so is a veteran
American newsman with an ingenious plan to lure the sleeper into
the open. 1995.
The Scout RC 42867
by Harry Combs
read by Chuck Benson
5 cassettes
In this sequel to Brules (RC 39642), narrator Cat Brules
recounts his days as an Indian scout with the U.S. Army.
Describes in detail Custer's debacle against the Sioux, the
army's pursuit of the Nez Perce, and other brutal events. Strong
language and violence. 1995.
Where Echoes Live RC 42869
by Marcia Muller
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
Sharon McCone has joined a former colleague in the California
desert to work for the California Coalition for Environmental
Preservation. A San Francisco-Hong Kong-based company is buying
up nearby acreage, disturbing the environment, and making
suspicious land deals with the few remaining residents. McCone
investigates the disappearance of a local eccentric and the
appearance of a bullet-ridden body. Strong language and some
violence. 1991.
Shards of Memory RC 42946
by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
A twentieth-century saga covering four generations of a New York
City family with ties to London and India. The first narrator is
the genial grandmother called Baby, who tells of her mother's
marriage with an Indian poet and the international religious
movement they founded. 1995.
Raising Holy Hell RC 42964
by Bruce Olds
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
A fictionalized account of the life of abolitionist John Brown
from his Ohio roots to his failed raid on the federal arsenal at
Harper's Ferry and subsequent hanging in 1859. Using private
letters, interviews, speeches, public documents, and other
sources, the author weaves his story of Brown's violent
commitment to the antislavery cause. Includes views of historic
figures such as Frederick Douglass and Robert E. Lee. 1995.
The Virgin in the Garden RC 42967
by A.S. Byatt
read by Corrie James
4 cassettes
A coming-of-age story set in 1953 England. Alternating chapters
follow the lives of three Potter children: Stephanie, an
atheist, marries the local curate; Frederica, an actress, falls
in love with a playwright; and Marcus, who dabbles with psychic
phenomena, goes mad. Strong language and descriptions of sex.
1978.
Brain Fever RC 42974
by Valerie Sayers
read by David Palmer
2 cassettes
Middle-aged professor Tim Rooney feels another breakdown looming
when he leaves his fiancée, decides to find his former
wife, and heads for New York with fifteen thousand dollars
stuffed in his shoes. Tim's mind slowly unravels as he contends
with past and present troubles. Strong language and some
explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.
Flashman and the Angel of the Lord: From "The Flashman
Papers," 1858-1859 RC 42979
edited by George MacDonald Fraser
read by Graeme Malcolm
3 cassettes
The cowardly and lecherous Harry Flashman is recruited to the
cause of abolitionist John Brown in 1859. Flashman's adventures
see him enlisted as a government spy, abducted by white
supremacists, and involved in John Brown's raid on the federal
arsenal at Harper's Ferry. Some descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Rifles: Seven Dreams; a Book of North American
Landscapes, Volume 6 RC 42993
by William T. Vollmann
read by Ed Blake
3 cassettes
Follows The Ice-Shirt (RC 32983) and Second Dream,
Fathers and Crows (RC 37080), which covered North America's
history up to the sixteenth century. Here the author intertwines
Sir John Franklin's 1840s search for a Northwest passage with
the relocation of the Inuits in the 1950s and its results. Some
violence. 1994.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes RC 43001
by Arthur Conan Doyle
read by John Horton
3 cassettes
Follows the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (RC 17437).
Doyle offers eleven more tales of Holmes and Dr. Watson,
including Holmes's meeting with Moriarty, the Napoleon of crime.
In a final note, Doyle explains Holmes's demise. Includes a
chronology of Doyle's work and an introduction by editor
Christopher Roden. 1993.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes RC 43002
by Arthur Conan Doyle
read by John Horton
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Ten years after the fictional death of Sherlock Holmes, Doyle
bows to public pressure and breathes new life into his creation.
Using incidents from his own life, Doyle provides thirteen
adventures for his amateur detective and Holmes's frequently
baffled colleague, Dr. Watson. Includes a chronology of Doyle's
work and an introduction by editor Richard Lancelyn Green. 1993.
Seedtime and Harvest RC 43010
by Mary E. Pearce
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Sequel to The Land Endures (RD 17912), set in England in
the decades just prior to and during World War II. Charlie
Truscott, thirty-five, has become a mechanic, repairing cars and
farm equipment in Herrick Cross. Linn Mercybright, her father,
and her illegitimate son have also settled down in Herrick Cross
after several moves. Charlie and Linn soon marry, but their
hopeful plans are destroyed by Linn's ambition. 1982.
By the Green of the Spring: Loss of Eden, Volume 3 RC
43012
by John Masters
read by John Horton
5 cassettes
In this sequel to Heart of War (RC 42912), it is 1918 and
the guns have fallen silent on the battlefields of Europe. Four
families struggle to mend their lives and pursue their dreams in
the aftermath of the Great War. Some strong language and
descriptions of sex. 1981.
Born Guilty: A Joe Sixsmith Novel RC 43016
by Reginald Hill
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
The black, balding Luton, England, ex-lathe operator, now a
private eye, discovers a boy's body stuffed into a box in the
graveyard. A society matron wants to know what happened.
Sixsmith also has two other cases: Galina Hacker has hired him
to find out why someone is annoying her grandda, and Mavis
Dalgety wants her school chum's teacher investigated. Some
strong language. 1995.
The Mamur Zapt and the Donkey-Vous: A Suspense Tale of Old
Cairo RC 43017
by Michael Pearce
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
Following The Mamur Zapt and the Night of the Dog,
Captain Owen is mystified by the silence that accompanies the
disappearance of Octave Moulin, an elderly Frenchman, from a
famous Cairo hotel. When word comes that Moulin's wife is coming
to Cairo, his girlfriend is spirited away. Then a ransom note
appears. But no one admits to seeing anything awry, not even the
usually observant donkey rental boys. 1990.
The Mamur Zapt and the Girl in the Nile RC 43018
by Michael Pearce
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Mamur Zapt and the Men Behind (RC
42884), Captain Owen goes to examine the body of a young
woman who fell off Prince Narouz's boat while it was moored. But
the corpse is missing, and the prince denies any knowledge of
the drowning victim. Now the captain's investigation pits him
against his superiors, the prince, the Cairo underground, the
colonial government, and his girlfriend. 1992.
The Mamur Zapt and the Spoils of Egypt RC 43019
by Michael Pearce
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
Mamur Zapt, head of Cairo's secret police, is piqued when asked
to keep an eye on Miss Skinner, an outspoken American whose
cause it is to keep priceless antiquities in Egypt. But when two
serious accidents nearly befall his charge, Zapt wonders if her
inquiries are exposing dangerous truths. Sequel to The Mamur
Zapt and the Girl in the Nile (RC 43018). 1992.
The Rake and the Reformer RC 43053
by Mary Jo Putney
read by Ann Hodapp
3 cassettes
Regency romance in which the notorious Reggie Davenport
unexpectedly inherits an estate. Told that it has been expertly
managed, Reggie has no idea that the manager is in fact a woman,
the striking "spinster" Alys Weston. Tensions mount
when they meet face to face. Strong language and explicit
descriptions of sex. 1989.
Islands in the Net RC 43055
by Bruce Sterling
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
In the twenty-first century, data is power, and it is closely
rationed through a global communications network. Laura Webster
is a bright young star who manages information at a
multinational firm. Her secure life suddenly changes when she
descends into a vicious high-tech underworld. Strong language
and descriptions of sex. 1988.
Keeping the Good Light RC 43061
by Katherine Kirkpatrick
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Stepping Stones Lighthouse, Long Island Sound, 1903. Eliza
Brown, sixteen, is bored with living in a lighthouse and longs
for friends and adventure. When tragedy strikes her family,
Eliza's life begins to change and her maturity is tested. For
junior and senior high readers. 1995.
Rules of the Hunt RC 43065
by Victor O'Reilly
read by Ray Foushee
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Games of the Hangman (RC 42613) Irish
ex-soldier Hugo Fitzduane and his son are fiercely attacked by
Japanese terrorists avenging their leader's death. Fitzduane
recovers from his wounds and begins a relentless hunt for the
attackers on their own turf. Strong language, violence, and
descriptions of sex. 1995.
V. RC 43066
by Thomas Pynchon
read by Fred Major
4 cassettes
A wild, discursive tale of two men and an unknown woman called
"V." Benny Profane, inveterate victim, is set in
contrast to the young adventurer called Stencil, whose life
quest is to discover the identity of V., whose initial appears
in his dead father's journal. Some strong language and some
violence. 1963.
The Enemy Within RC 43067
by Larry Bond
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
A foreign terrorist campaign of bombings and massacres across
the United States incites widespread civil turmoil and paralyzes
the nation. As leaders hunker down to contain the disaster, FBI
and Delta Force agents desperately pursue the terrorists. Strong
language and violence. 1996.
April Morning RC 43072
by Howard Fast
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette (Reissue)
Fictional account of the Revolutionary War battles of Lexington
and Concord, related by fifteen-year-old Adam Cooper. After his
father is shot down by the British, Adam joins the colonial
militia at Lexington in its ambush of British regulars. For
junior and senior high readers. 1961.
Ancestral Truths RC 43076
by Sara Maitland
read by Janis Gray
3 cassettes
Clare Kerslake has lost her right hand--and David, her cruel
male companion of eight years--in a mountain-climbing accident.
She cannot remember what happened that day and is terrified that
she might have killed David. And Clare must learn to deal with
"the hand," her much-despised prosthesis. Some strong
language and some descriptions of sex. 1993.
Wild Is My Love RC 43078
by Janelle Taylor
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
3 cassettes
A mysterious stranger arrives to rescue Princess Alysa, who is
captive in her father's besieged kingdom. Trapped by destiny,
the stranger and Alysa struggle to reclaim her lost legacy and
consummate the passionate love that they share. Violence and
descriptions of sex. 1987.
Nebula Awards 30: SFWA's Choices for the Best Science Fiction
and Fantasy of the Year RC 43079
edited by Pamela Sargent
read by James DeLotel
3 cassettes
The year's best stories, poems, and essays in science fiction
and fantasy. In "Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge," alien
anthropologists discover that members of the now-extinct human
race had been slaughtering each other on Earth even before they
reached the stars and wreaked havoc there. Strong language and
some descriptions of sex. 1996.
Final Refuge: A Novel of Eco-Terrorism RC 43082
by James L. Haley
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
Eric Jackson's love and life's work, his Houston wildlife
preserve, has cost him his marriage, and now two beloved black
rhinos have been killed by poachers. Learning that the thieves
plan to raid his refuge for more rare-animal loot, Eric
confronts the armed poachers and defends his animals. Some
strong language. 1994.
The Patriot RC 43084
by Piers Paul Read
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Francesca McDermott is an American art scholar hired to organize
an exhibition of Russian experimental "decadent" art
in unified Berlin. Assisting her is Andrei Serotkin, a devoted
Marxist and former KGB agent, who plans to hijack the valuable
paintings and hold them for ransom in a bold attempt to fund the
bankrupt Communist Party. Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1995.
The High Missouri: Rivers West RC 43086
by Win Blevins
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Montreal, 1820. Dylan Elfed Davis Campbell has had it with
working in a bank and resigns on the spur of the moment. He
plans to follow the calling he has always felt to be a priest.
But his father is outraged, and they have a disagreement. With
no place to go, Dylan hides in a barn. There he meets a druid,
who offers him a chance to join the NorthWest Company and spread
the word of God to the Indians. Some strong language and some
violence. 1994.
Straight for the Heart RC 43087
by Marsha Canham
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
The stakes are high for Montana Rose, a lady gambler on the
Mississippi riverboats. Her true identity is discovered by the
dashing Yankee Michael Tarrington as Rose struggles to save the
family plantation from ruin after the Civil War. Strong language
and explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.
Saratoga Fleshpot RC 43091
by Stephen Dobyns
read by James DeLotel
2 cassettes
P.I. Charlie Bradshaw's buddy Victor Plotz knows the colt
Fleshpot is a ringer when it refuses to take the trademark nip
at Vic's backside. Then the inept man hired by legal enemies to
shadow Vic turns up dead; Vic is accused; and the real Fleshpot
has to be rescued. A mix of sleuthing and humor. 1995.
Underdog RC 43092
by Laurien Berenson
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes
Melanie Travis is presented with a pedigreed poodle and enrolls
the pup in Jenny Maguire's elite dog handling school. When Jenny
loses her own dog, Ziggy, Melanie offers consolation. But Jenny
herself is dead within a week, and Melanie discovers Ziggy
alive. The sleuth hits the dog show circuit on a hunt for
Jenny's killer. 1996.
The End of the Age RC 43093
by Pat Robertson
read by Andy Chappell
3 cassettes
The apocalyptic prophesy is fulfilled in this tale of the
Earth's last days in the year 2000. In the wake of natural
calamities, the Antichrist forms a new world order based in
Babylon. All are doomed but the "unaffected," who
believe in Jesus Christ and who finally prevail. 1995.
Flesh and Blood RC 43094
by Michael Cunningham
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
The saga of the Stassos clan, from poverty in Greece to wealth,
dysfunction, and tragedy in America. In the family's
nouveau-riche home on Long Island, the crude patriarch
Constantine presides over his refined wife, two daughters, and
gay son. As the years pass, all must confront their personal
demons. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.
Desperation RC 43098
by Stephen King
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
A couple driving across the Nevada desert are pulled over by an
enormous cop, who arrests them for marijuana that mysteriously
appears in their trunk. On the way back to the town,
Desperation, they realize the cop is insane. Violence, strong
language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Companion to
The Regulators (RC 42876), written under the name of
Richard Bachman. Bestseller 1996.
The Knight and the Dove RC 43100
by Lori Wick
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
King Henry VIII has ordered a marriage between Bracken of
Hawkings Crest and a daughter of Lord Vincent of Stone Lake.
When Marigold refuses, Vincent offers his youngest, Megan. She
and Bracken get off to a shaky start, but matters worsen when
Marigold learns Bracken is to become a duke. Sequel to Who
Brings Forth the Wind (RC 43099). 1995.
The Boys from St. Petri RC 43112
by Bjarne Reuter
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
Lars Balstrup is coming of age in his German-occupied Denmark
village in 1942. He longs to join his older brother's secret
club, the St. Petri Group, which engages in petty acts of
resistance against the Nazis. As the defiance grows more
serious, however, the St. Petri boys find their lives in
jeopardy. For junior and senior high readers. Batchelder Award.
1994.
A Frozen Woman RC 43113
by Annie Ernaux
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette
Autobiographical novel published in France in 1981 about the
author's coming of age in the 1960s. A bright girl with
unconventional parents, she becomes a typical teenager worrying
about looks, first love, and developing the female role. After
marriage she finds herself frozen into a stultifying life.
Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.
The Anatomy Lesson RC 43119
by John David Morley
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
Kiddo, a college and social dropout, lives on the dole in
Amsterdam, mourning the premature death of his brother, Morton.
Honoring Morton's final request, Kiddo witnesses the autopsy and
begins a painful discovery of the darker side of his brother's
life. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1995.
Clear Light of Day RC 43122
by Anita Desai
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
An Indian girl describes middle-class life in Old Delhi in 1947,
at the time of partition and independence. Focuses on the Das
family, made up of a diabetic mother, a mostly absent father, a
widowed aunt, and various children. 1980.
Beyond Dreams: True-to-Life Series from Hamilton High RC
43133
by Marilyn Reynolds
read by Mary Woods
1 cassette
Six stories about Hamilton High students dealing with problems.
In "Only If You Think So," Jason is transferred to
Sojourner High until his grades improve. Despite his father's
digs about "slowburner" school, Jason learns not to
think of himself as a loser. In other stories, teen mothers make
decisions to better their lives. Strong language, some violence,
and some descriptions of sex. For junior and senior high
readers. 1995.
Shroud for a Nightingale: An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery RC
43141
by P.D. James
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
The General Nursing Council inspector is visiting the
Nightingale School on the Sussex-Hampshire border. As she
watches the class practice tube feeding, the nurse playing the
patient suddenly convulses and dies. Soon another nurse is dead.
Scotland Yard's Adam Dalgliesh investigates. 1971.
The Three Daughters of Madame Liang RC 43147
by Pearl S. Buck
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The story of China is portrayed through the eyes of a Shanghai
restaurant owner, Madame Liang. She sends her three daughters to
America to be educated, and they become torn between China and
America. Their emotional and patriotic conflicts frame a story
of turbulence and drama. 1969.
Ransom for an Angel: A Jeremy Ransom/Emily Charters Mystery
RC 43153
by Fred W. Hunter
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Chicago detective Ransom, happiest soaking in a tub and reading
Dickens, is attracted to Angela Stephens but can't help her. A
fortune-teller has predicted Angela's murder and described the
killer as Angela's husband. When Angela is strangled, though,
her husband doesn't seem to have a motive, and Ransom can't
believe he's guilty. Some strong language. 1995.
The Liar RC 43154
by Stephen Fry
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Follows Adrian Healey through prep school, a brief time spent as
a Piccadilly "rent-boy," his work in smuggling illegal
drugs, and his return to academia at Oxford where he meets
Professor Trefusis, a language instructor. Adrian has spent his
life telling so many lies that he actually begins to believe
many of them. Then he and Professor Trefusis get involved with a
caper regarding a "truth machine." Violence, strong
language, and descriptions of sex. 1991.
Madeleine's Ghost RC 43156
by Robert Girardi
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Ned Conti, thirty-two, from New Orleans, lives in a haunted New
York apartment while working on his dissertation and trying to
forget his ex-girlfriend. He takes a temporary job as a
researcher for Father Rose, who is looking for evidence to
declare a former nun a saint. As his worlds converge, Ned
becomes involved in seances, suicides, miracles, and mummies.
Some strong language. 1995.
Tracks of Deceit: Katy Steele Adventures, Volume 1 RC
43159
by Alan and Gilbert Morris
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
When a Central Pacific Railroad detective is murdered in 1867,
his daughter, Katy, is hired to investigate. Katy and her fellow
sleuth, Sam Bronte, uncover a web of official corruption as they
track the murderer and railroad saboteur. 1996.
The Ruby RC 43162
by Christina Skye
read by Gabriella Cavallero
4 cassettes
A tale of intrigue set in London and Ceylon in the 1860s. The
beautiful Barrett Winslow's knowledge of her grandfather's
scientific secrets puts her life in jeopardy. The Rajah of
Ranapore rescues her, but draws her into the web of his desire
under the mystical power of the fabled ruby. Strong language,
violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1992.
The Man without a Face RC 43164
by Isabelle Holland
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Receiving no love from his mother or stepsisters, troubled Chuck
Norstadt welcomes the acceptance and affection of Justin McLeod,
a mysterious recluse with a badly scarred face. Chuck is
confused and frightened by his own feelings for Justin. For
junior and senior high readers. 1972.
The Left Hand of Darkness RC 43166
by Ursula K. Le Guin
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Confused and afraid, a lone human becomes the pawn in an
intrigue on Gethen, a planet inhabited by creatures that are
neither male nor female. They are not neuters but have the
potential to be either man or woman. Originally published in
1969. Hugo and Nebula Awards. 1976.
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline: Stories and a Novella RC
43170
by George Saunders
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
Six short stories and one novella that paint a frightful and
bleak--though darkly humorous--portrait of future America. In
the novella Bounty, severe environmental degradation
produces a population of genetically mutant "Flaweds,"
who must service the ranking "Normals." Some strong
language and some descriptions of sex. 1996.
How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn't Called You Back?
RC 43171
by Valerie Hobbs
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
Sixteen-year-old Bron Lewis's life turns upside down when her
family moves to a small California town. She eventually makes
friends, but they prove to be the wrong kind. And when gentle
Will Harding comes along, Bron has trouble accepting his
earnestness. Some strong language. For junior and senior high
readers. 1995.
The Queen of the Tambourine RC 43172
by Jane Gardam
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
The chronicle of stodgy suburban housewife Eliza Peabody's
mental breakdown as reflected through letters that she writes to
a neighbor. When one of the missives incites the neighbor to
abandon her family, Eliza cracks. Later epistles trace her
continuing collapse. 1991.
People of the Lightning: The First North Americans, Volume 7
RC 43174
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
In this sequel to The People of the Lakes (RC 41693), the
authors discuss the Windover people who lived in what is now
Florida some eight thousand years ago. The story centers around
Pondwader, an albino, who becomes known as White Lightning Boy.
Violence and some descriptions of sex. For high school and older
readers. 1995.
Edisto Revisited RC 43175
by Padgett Powell
read by David Hartley-Margolin
1 cassette
In this sequel to Edisto (RC 20773), Simons Manigault
returns home after graduating from Clemson with an architectural
degree. But Simons has no plans to seek gainful
employment--instead he finds ways to while away his summer. He
begins by having an affair with his first cousin. Some strong
language. 1996.
My Gal Sunday RC 43179
by Mary Higgins Clark
read by Pam Ward
1 cassette
Stories featuring a husband-and-wife team of amateur sleuths.
Henry Britland is a former U.S. president who is married to a
younger congresswoman nicknamed Sunday. Their cases include
finding out who really killed the girlfriend of Henry's
secretary of state. Bestseller 1996.
The Illuminati RC 43186
by Larry Burkett
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
In the year 2001, the president suspends the U.S. Congress
because of a crumbling economy. His act follows the agenda of
the Illuminati, a secret society that aims to make a one-world
economy controlled by a central computer system. An Atlanta
pastor leads a crusade to expose the society and thwart the
diabolical scheme. 1991.
Battlefields and Playgrounds RC 43196
by Janos Nyiri
read by Ken Kliban
4 cassettes
Portrays the suffering of Hungarian Jews during World War II as
seen through the eyes of József Sondor, a defiant
six-year-old. József, with his mother and brother,
endures peril and privation at the hands of the Nazis. The
hellish conditions bring out both the best and the worst aspects
of humanity. 1989.
Birdsong RC 43199
by Sebastian Faulks
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Rootless after an unhappy love affair, young Englishman Stephen
Wraysford joins the World War I British army. He finds
comradeship and loyalty amid the horrors of war as he commands
men charged with digging tunnels under German lines and setting
off bombs there. Violence and explicit descriptions of sex.
1993.
Art and Lies: A Piece for Three Voices and a Bawd RC
43202
by Jeanette Winterson
read by Lisette Lecat
2 cassettes
A story of three people aboard a high-speed train out of London
in the year 2000. Handel, a surgeon and priest; Picasso, a young
woman artist; and Sappho, a lesbian poet, are all fleeing lives
of suppression in a brutal world of technology. Strong language
and some descriptions of sex. 1994.
Live at Five RC 43206
by David Haynes
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Middle-class African American Brandon Wilson anchors a TV
newscast in the Twin Cities. His producer decides that Wilson
isn't "black" enough and has him "go back to the
streets" to cover the horrors of ghetto life. But there
Wilson finds a different story from what his boss envisioned.
Strong language. 1996.
The Tailor of Panama RC 43208
by John le Carré
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
The imminent takeover of the Panama Canal by Panama prompts
British intelligence to recruit Harry Pendel, tailor to the
Panamanian president. For personal reasons, Harry isn't above
tailoring his reports to suit his British handlers, heedless of
the consequences for world order. Strong language. Bestseller
1996.
The Store RC 43211
by T.S. Stribling
read by Ilona Dulaski
4 cassettes
Chronicle of an Alabama family headed by Colonel Miltiades
Vaiden, a southern gentleman who fought at Shiloh and was a Klan
member during Reconstruction. The story depicts the ending of
the old South and the beginning of the new. Sequel to The
Forge (RC 43658). Strong language. 1933 Pulitzer Prize
winner. 1932.
The Knowledge of Water RC 43212
by Sarah Smith
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
This sequel to The Vanished Child (RC 36805) is set in
Paris in 1910, when the Seine overflows. Concert pianist Perdita
Halley regrets her career-based refusal to marry scientist
Alexander von Reisden. As their love deepens, the two become
entangled in a web of art theft and forgery, conspiracy, and
murder. Violence and descriptions of sex. 1996.
The Marks of Birth RC 43215
by Pablo Medina
read by Ilona Dulaski
2 cassettes
Felicia Turner is the matriarch of her Caribbean family. Her
son, Fernando García-Turner, and his wife, Rosa, are
forced to flee to America with Felicia's beloved grandson,
Antón, who bears the family's hereditary birthmark.
Antón and his family face hardship adapting to American
society while living in exile. Some descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Patchwork People RC 43217
by Louise Lawrence
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
In twenty-first century, the natural resources of Wales are
almost depleted, and work is scarce. As Hugh, sixteen,
panhandles at the railway station, he meets and rescues Helena,
fifteen, the rich daughter of a mine manager. They come to
realize that they have the ability to reshape their futures.
Some strong language. For senior high readers. 1994.
The Following Story RC 43219
by Cees Nooteboom
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Herman Mussert, a classics professor and travel writer, falls
asleep in his Amsterdam apartment but awakens in Lisbon in the
very room where once he had a brief affair. He revisits other
scenes of that liaison and then inexplicably embarks on a voyage
to the Amazon. Some strong language. Winner of the 1993 European
Literary Prize for Best Novel. 1993.
First King of Shannara RC 43233
by Terry Brooks
read by James DeLotel
4 cassettes
In this prequel to The Sword of Shannara (RC 11046),
Bremen the Druid, who has been expelled from Paranor for
studying the magical sciences, learns of an advancing army of
trolls led by Brona, the Warlock Lord. Bremen now struggles to
unite the peoples of the Four Lands and to find a new weapon
that will foil Brona's evil plans. 1996.
Murphy's Ambush RC 43237
by Gary Paulsen and Brian Burks
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Al Murphy, Murphy's Stand (RC 42350), is in love again
and a sheriff in Turrett, New Mexico. When rancher Travis
Price's wife and two children are killed, Murphy pursues the
Apache suspects. But then Price is murdered in the doctor's
office, leading Murphy on a new trail. Some violence. 1995.
Tara's Healing RC 43240
by Janice Holt Giles
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Dr. Tara Cochrane is a tired and broken young man. Hod Pierce,
from Tara's World War II command, invites him to try the quiet
rural life of Piney Ridge, Kentucky. The city boy slowly begins
to understand the beauty of the hard mountain life, and thus to
find meaning in his own existence. 1951.
Paragon Walk RC 43241
by Anne Perry
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes
In the posh street of Paragon Walk in Victorian London, a young
woman is brutally raped and murdered. Inspector Thomas Pitt and
his wife, Charlotte, must penetrate the highbrow facades of the
suspects before they can uncover the scandal and prevent more
killing. Violence. 1981.
The Forge: The General, Book 1 RC 43242
by S.M. Stirling and David Drake
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
In this prequel to The Hammer (RC 43662), a young
military officer discovers a sentient battle computer, a relic
from before his planet's fall. Guided by the computer, he leads
his people against enemy barbarians as he contends with the
treachery of his own civil government. Strong language and
violence. 1991.
Splitting RC 43250
by Fay Weldon
read by Ann Hodapp
2 cassettes
Angelica White, former lead singer of a successful rock band,
marries Edwin Rice and settles down on an English estate. She is
betrayed by Edwin, who divorces her and tricks her out of her
fortune. As Angelica's life comes apart, her multiple
personalities vie for control. Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1995.
Cold Snap: Stories RC 43251
by Thom Jones
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Ten dark stories on themes of war, disease, and squalor. In the
title story, a defrocked doctor finds relief from his depression
by inducing intense physical pain and by putting a loaded gun to
his head. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions
of sex. 1995.
The Two Georges RC 43256
by Richard Dreyfuss and Harry Turtledove
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
In this "alternate history" tale, 1996 America is at
peace under His Majesty Charles III--a peace that has held since
the 1760s, when George Washington and George III struck an
agreement. When the symbol of harmony, a painting called The
Two Georges, is stolen by a separatist group, a team of
sleuths sets out to get it back. Strong language and
descriptions of sex. 1996.
Short Circuits: Thirteen Shocking Stories by Outstanding
Writers for Young Adults RC 43261
edited by Donald R. Gallo
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Tales of terror about teenagers caught in precarious situations.
In "Ethan Unbound," a boy finds himself locked in the
library with a librarian-witch and must summon Dracula and other
literary figures to his aid. For junior and senior high readers.
1992.
A Private View RC 43262
by Anita Brookner
read by David Palmer
2 cassettes
Retirement disappointments leave George Bland with an empty
life. The appearance of a brash New Age neighbor sparks
long-buried feelings in Bland. Rekindled, he considers his life
and the women in it, including a lukewarm romance of long ago.
Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1994.
River of Hidden Dreams RC 43264
by Connie May Fowler
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Sadie Hunter is a middle-aged woman who takes tourists on
boating excursions in Florida's Key West. She entertains
passengers with stories of her family's heritage and her Native
American grandmother's doomed love for Sadie's mulatto
grandfather. Throughout, Sadie struggles to commit to her Cuban
boyfriend, Carlos. Some strong language and some descriptions of
sex. 1994.
Bombardiers RC 43265
by Po Bronson
read by Ray Foushee
3 cassettes
Sid Geeder is a top-selling bond trader but he hates his work
and only hangs on to become vested in his firm's stock. As Sid
and the other greedy rogues hustle bonds to gullible people,
their deals become more bizarre, culminating in the corporate
takeover of a country. Strong language and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1995.
The Man Who Cast Two Shadows RC 43274
by Carol O'Connell
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Suspended for shooting a suspect, NYPD sergeant Kathleen Mallory
hears on the news that she's been strangled. Mallory moves into
the real victim's apartment building to sort out the confusion
and pursues a string of clues into a world of illusion and
horror. Strong language and violence. 1995.
Miss Willie RC 43275
by Janice Holt Giles
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes
The story of a kindly woman who moves to the Kentucky hills in
the late 1940s to teach in a one-room schoolhouse. At first she
tries to change the rustic habits of the stubborn and proud
Appalachian people. But eventually she comes to appreciate the
dignity of their customs and finds fulfillment in their way of
life. 1951.
Rogue Warrior: Task Force Blue RC 43276
by Richard Marcinko and John Weisman
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
In Key West Marcinko and Task Force Blue bungle the rescue of
the Secretary of the Navy from a hijacked 727, and Marcinko
faces a court martial. But that must wait until he can stanch
the flow of weapons from government arsenals. Sequel to Rogue
Warrior: Green Team (RC 41020). Strong language and
violence. Bestseller 1996.
Rising from the Ruins RC 43277
by Daniel Peters
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
Harper Yates, a Vietnam War "draft dodger," struggles
as a novelist, while his wife launches a late academic career.
When he finds himself stealing lawn ornaments, Yates realizes he
needs a change and accepts an invitation to help out at a
Guatemalan archaeological dig. Strong language and descriptions
of sex. 1995.
Black Light RC 43278
by Stephen Hunter
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Bob Lee Swagger, a former Marine sniper in Vietnam, joins a
young journalist in search of the killer of Swagger's father, an
Arkansas highway patrolman. It soon becomes clear that powerful
people don't want the truth uncovered, and Swagger must use
every trick and weapon in his arsenal just to survive. Strong
language. 1996.
The Last Don RC 43299
by Mario Puzo
read by Ed Blake
3 cassettes
On the day of a family double-christening in 1965, Mafia don
Clericuzio decides to spare his progeny from "our
sins" by shifting to legitimate investments. Twenty-five
years later, the male cousins who shared the christening
continue to struggle with the sins of their forebears. Strong
language, violence, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
Icon RC 43301
by Frederick Forsyth
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
In 1999 Igor Komarov seems poised to become president of a
Russia on the brink of anarchy. Then a copy of his racist and
fascist ideology--the "Black Manifesto"--falls into
foreign hands. Ex-CIA agent Jason Monk is dispatched to
infiltrate Russia, spread word of the document's existence, and
prevent Komarov from being elected. Some strong language. 1996.
Prizes RC 43306
by Erich Segal
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
Adam Coopersmith is a caring physician whose genetic research
brings him to the nation's capital to save the life of a
"senior Washington personage." Sandy Raven is a
gerontological researcher whose work has left his personal life
on the brink of disaster. Isabel da Costa, a child prodigy, is a
brilliant physicist whose father dominates her life. Each
aspires to win a Nobel Prize. One will die in the process.
Strong language. 1995.
Shock Wave RC 43317
by Clive Cussler
read by Bob Askey
4 cassettes
In the 1850s, a male and a female prisoner survive a shipwreck
and find diamonds on an island. In the year 2000, their
descendant Arthur Dorsett plans to topple the diamond market
with a flood of gems. His mining techniques are causing an
"acoustic plague" that kills animals and humans.
Investigating these odd deaths, Dirk Pitt meets Arthur's
daughter Maeve, who is quite different from her father. Violence
and some strong language. Bestseller 1996.
Jack and Jill RC 43318
by James Patterson
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
When a United States senator is shot dead in his home, the sole
clue is a cryptic poem signed "Jack and Jill." More
murders follow, and detective Alex Cross is caught up in a
frantic race to stop the killers before they reach the
president. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex.
Bestseller 1996.
Harvest RC 43323
by Tess Gerritsen
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Surgical resident Abby DiMatteo is excited to be considered for
the prestigious cardiac transplant team. But when she must
oppose her colleagues' plan to divert a transplant from a dying
seventeen-year-old to a billionaire's wife, she is discredited.
As she fights to clear her name, she is shocked at what she
learns. Strong language and violence. 1996.
This Year It Will Be Different and Other Stories: A
Christmas Treasury RC 43325
by Maeve Binchy
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Fifteen tales set in England, Ireland, and Australia telling how
family members come to terms with Christmases that circumstances
make "different." In the title story, a mother's
listlessness leads to a change in the way her family observes
the holiday. In another a resentful stepdaughter finds love
within her new family. Bestseller 1996.
All That Glitters RC 43328
by V.C. Andrews
read by Mary Woods
2 cassettes
In the sequel to Pearl in the Mist (RC 39864), Ruby is
living in her late grandmother's bayou shack with her baby,
Pearl. Wealthy Paul Tate wants to marry Ruby even though they
now know they are half-siblings. She agrees to a celibate
marriage for Pearl's sake, but cannot forget her love for
Pearl's father, Beau. Meanwhile, Ruby's twin, Gisselle,
continues to be a thorn in her side. Some strong language and
some explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.
Lieberman's Day: An Abe Lieberman Mystery RC 43331
by Stuart Kaminsky
read by Richard Davidson
2 cassettes
Aging police detective Lieberman and his partner, William
Hanrahan, bring their own kind of justice to two criminals: a
robber who kills Lieberman's nephew, David, and wounds David's
pregnant wife; and an abusive husband whose wife and son have
taken refuge with Hanrahan. Some violence and some strong
language. 1994.
Jackson's Dilemma RC 43352
by Iris Murdoch
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
On the eve of their wedding, Marian Berran mysteriously jilts
country squire Edward Lannion. The disappointed friends and
family, all overcome with sadness, are healed by a world-wise
manservant, who intervenes and sets their world to rights. 1995.
The Daughters of Cain RC 43356
by Colin Dexter
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Chief Inspector Morse is faced with two related murders. When an
Oxford don is found stabbed in his flat, the trail of clues
leads to an unsavory college servant whom the don had sacked.
But when the servant turns up murdered with the same weapon,
Morse is left with a surfeit of suspects and a perplexing
mystery. 1994.
A Monstrous Regiment of Women RC 43358
by Laurie R. King
read by Carmella Ross
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Beekeeper's Apprentice (RC 39416),
detective Mary Russell is in London when she happens upon her
friend Veronica, who has joined a feminist religious temple that
attracts wealthy young women, some of whom meet untimely ends.
Mary goes underground on the case and finds more danger than she
expected. 1995.
Falling into Glory RC 43359
by Robert Westall
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
At seventeen Robbie Atkinson is a popular, respected rugby star
in his final year of British grammar school. By a series of
chance encounters, he becomes involved with schoolteacher Emma
Harris, whose fiance was killed in World War II. For junior and
senior high and older readers. 1993.
In the Place of Fallen Leaves RC 43360
by Tim Pears
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
3 cassettes
The story of thirteen-year-old Alison, the youngest child of a
Devon, England, farm family during the summer drought of 1984.
As Alison is awakening to love, sexuality, and life's mysteries,
her disabled grandmother reveals to her the tragic and sordid
history of her family's past. 1993.
The Rector's Wife RC 43361
by Joanna Trollope
read by Barbara Caruso
2 cassettes
For twenty years, Anna Bouverie lived a stifled, penurious life
as wife of the village rector. Her husband is passed over for a
promotion to archdeacon, and he retreats into bitterness. But
Anna begins a journey of self-discovery, taking a menial job and
two new lovers. 1991.
The Manikin RC 43367
by Joanna Scott
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Manikin, the lavish estate of a taxidermist, houses a collection
of stuffed creatures. The taxidermist's lonely widow lives on in
this isolated kingdom with a staff of eccentric servants. A new
housekeeper arrives with her young daughter, who is doomed to
grow up in the eerie and cursed house. Strong language and
descriptions of sex. 1996.
Synonym for Love RC 43368
by Alison Moore
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Matty Grover is on the move a lot. When her mother dies and her
father leaves her, Matty's previously unknown stepbrother boards
her with the church organist. Later, in the Arizona desert,
Matty deals with family secrets and her own coming-of-age.
Strong language. 1995.
Shinju RC 43369
by Laura Joh Rowland
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
In 1689 Tokyo, detective Sano Ichiro discovers the bodies of a
man and a woman bound together in an apparent shinju or
"double love suicide." But Sano suspects otherwise and
risks personal ruin as he follows a trail of clues that lead to
a treasonous plot against the shogun. Violence. 1994.
Our Landlady RC 43370
by L. Frank Baum
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
A collection of humorous stories written around 1890 about life
in South Dakota. Speaking through his fictional landlady, the
creator of Oz comments on railroads, suffrage, prairie populism,
prohibition, and other issues of moment at the time that state
entered the Union. 1996.
Konfidenz RC 43371
by Ariel Dorfman
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
A woman comes to Paris to aid her imperiled lover. Immediately,
the telephone rings and she is swept into an alarming
relationship with the mysterious voice of a man who seems to
know everything about her, even intimate details. Gradually
there comes a startling revelation. Strong language and
descriptions of sex. 1995.
Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear RC
43375
by Katharine Weber
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
At twenty-six, photographer Harriet Rose has established her
career and has found her true love. Traveling to Geneva, she
stays with her old friend, Anne, whom Harriet finds much
changed, involved with a married man, and headed for disaster.
Harriet is faced with the delicate task of rescuing a reluctant
victim. Strong language. 1995.
The Master of Blacktower RC 43376
by Barbara Michaels
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes (Reissue)
In April of 1853, Damaris Gordon, an independent young woman
left penniless upon the death of her father, arrives in Scotland
to take up her position as companion to the spoiled disabled
daughter of the master of Blacktower--an enigmatic man with a
scarred face who may be responsible for the death of his wife.
1966.
The Oracle Glass RC 43379
by Judith Merkle Riley
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
At fifteen Geneviève Pasquier is orphaned and living in
Paris during the reign of Louis XIV. She is taken in and tutored
by La Voisin, an occultist and witch. Gifted with the power to
read the swirling waters of the oracle glass, Geneviève
finds intrigue and danger at the king's court. 1994.
A Place to Hide RC 43384
by Robert Westall
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
Eighteen-year-old Lucy King's father tells her she must go into
hiding because he is about to blow the whistle on the English
government. Dressed in her late mother's posh clothes, Lucy
flees, assumes a new identity as an antiques dealer, and waits
in terror to hear what will happen to her father. Some strong
language. For junior and senior high readers. 1994.
Bone Truth RC 43388
by Anne Finger
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Elizabeth, single and unexpectedly pregnant, considers her own
childhood and how her disability and her abusive father have
shaped her. She finds peace with herself through her art and her
humor, but worries about the effects she and the baby will have
on one another. Strong language, violence, and explicit
descriptions of sex. 1994.
Now I Know Everything RC 43390
by Andrew Postman
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Andrew, a would-be novelist, is hired by a famous women's
magazine as a columnist to report on romance and sex from a
"sensitive" man's perspective. As columnist
"Vince," his popularity among women soars while,
paradoxically, his love life--potential "material" for
his column--founders. Strong language and descriptions of sex.
1995.
Play It as It Lays RC 43391
by Joan Didion
read by Barbara Pinolini
1 cassette
A discursive story set in late 1960s Hollywood about an actress
whose immoderate lifestyle has alienated her from family and
friends. She witnesses a friend's suicide and enters a mental
hospital, where she recollects some of the formative events in
her life. Strong language. 1970.
Footprints RC 43395
by Shelby Hearon
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
After the sudden death of their grown daughter, Doug and Nan
Mayhall confront the long-suppressed conflicts of their
marriage. As Doug takes a young lover, Nan retreats to the
security of her relinquished academic career. It takes another
tragic event to bring healing to the estranged couple. Strong
language. 1996.
The Visiting Physician RC 43396
by Susan Richards Shreve
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Twenty years ago, Helen Fielding's baby sister drowned while the
children were visiting their aunt in small-town Ohio. Helen
returns to the town as a pediatrician to stem a deadly epidemic.
Less easy to diagnose is the malaise that grips the townspeople
and which Helen must confront to resolve the tragedy of her
youth. 1996.
Shelter RC 43397
by Jayne Anne Phillips
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
A rite-of-passage tale in which two young sisters encounter
crazed drifters in a remote West Virginia girls' camp in 1963.
The girls are transformed by their contacts with Parson, a
Bible-obsessed avenger; Buddy, child of the forest; and the
vicious Carmody. Strong language and violence. 1994.
Politically Correct Holiday Stories: For an Enlightened
Yuletide Season RC 43421
by James Finn Garner
read by David Hartley-Margolin
1 cassette
Garner, who wrote Politically Correct Bedtime Stories (RC
38598) and Once upon a More Enlightened Time (RC
40614), now rewrites holiday favorites for the 1990s.
Includes "'Twas the Night before Solstice,"
"Frosty the Persun of Snow," and "Rudolph the
Nasally Empowered Reindeer." In "A Christmas
Carol," Marley is visited by spiritual facilitators.
Bestseller 1995.
The Bestseller RC 43428
by Olivia Goldsmith
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
When, after countless rejections from publishers, first-time
author Terry O'Neil kills herself, her mother vows to get
Terry's huge manuscript into print. Intertwined are stories of
other authors and publishers hoping they have a book that will
make the bestseller list. Strong language and explicit
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
Love Me Forever RC 43432
by Johanna Lindsey
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Nineteenth-century English heiress Kimberly Richards is
pressured to select a husband soon so her father can remarry.
Lachlan MacGregor is in need of a wife with money, since his
stepmother took off with his family's inheritance. Then Richards
and MacGregor are given adjoining rooms while visiting a mutual
friend. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1995.
Bordersnakes RC 43433
by James Crumley
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
A ribald tale of two ornery guys on a rollicking spree, each of
whom seeks to avenge past wrongs. One wants payback for his own
near-murder, while the other aims to even the score over his
stolen inheritance. They descend into the sordid world of the
drug trade along the Mexican border. Strong language and
violence. Bestseller 1996.
Melody RC 43437
by V.C. Andrews
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Melody Logan loses her beloved father in a coal mining accident.
When her mother leaves her with the Logan family on Cape Cod,
Melody tries to adjust to her hard, new life. She finds a
faithful ally in her cousin, Cary, who reveals the family's
tragic past. Bestseller 1996.
Mischief RC 43441
by Amanda Quick
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Imogen Waterstone has inherited her uncle's Zamarian
antiquities, which she intends to use to trap her friend's
killer. Waterstone gets help from the reluctant earl of
Colchester, who was indebted to her uncle. But Waterstone and
Colchester are soon in serious trouble as corpses pile up.
Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
The Absence of Angels RC 43444
by W.S. Penn
read by Jamie Horton
2 cassettes
Alley Hummingbird, born of white and Indian parents, longs to
reconcile the two cultures that have formed him. A rebellious
college student during the Vietnam War, he moves between the
Hopi Second Mesa and Los Angeles in search of identity. When he
gets a brain tumor, he confronts death and finds enlightenment.
Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1994.
Voyage of the Exiles: Land of the Far Horizon, Book 1 RC
43445
by Patricia Hickman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
England, 1787. George Prentice's death sentence is reduced to
exile in Australia. Prentice is unaware that his wife and
daughter are also headed to the new colony under separate
passage. After a perilous voyage, they are reunited in their new
land. Prequel to Angel of the Outback (RC 43827). 1995.
The Long Way Home: The Real People, Book 5 RC 43449
by Robert J. Conley
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
In this sequel to The Way South (RC 40256), an enslaved
Cherokee priest, Deadwood Lighter, becomes an interpreter for
conquistador Hernando de Soto. On de Soto's expedition and quest
for gold in Florida, the priest is appalled at the Spaniards'
cruelty. As de Soto nears Cherokee territory, Lighter escapes to
warn his people. Violence. 1994.
Numbers in the Dark and Other Stories RC 43455
by Italo Calvino
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Thirty-seven tales and fables on such themes as politics,
ethics, and technology. "The Black Sheep" tells of a
country populated by thieves who rob one another every night.
This economic system stays in balance until an honest man
arrives. Some stories are humorous, others are ponderous, but
all are thought-provoking. 1995.
The Inhabited Woman RC 43456
by Gioconda Belli
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Aristocrat Lavinia Alarcón returns to her Latin American
home to begin work after her university studies in Italy. At
first an apolitical yuppie, she is gradually drawn into a
guerilla movement under the influence of a fifteenth-century
female rebel, whose spirit resides at Lavinia's home.
Descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Physician of London: The Second Part of the
Seventeenth-Century Trilogy of Nicholas Cooke RC 43460
by Stephanie Cowell
read by John Horton
3 cassettes
This sequel to Nicholas Cooke (RC 37467) opens in 1617 as
Nicholas, now a physician and priest, is living in a small
London parish. Nicholas and his colleagues form a scientific
society to better the world. His friend, the politically
ambitious Thomas Wentworth, becomes the focus of controversy and
faces execution for treason. 1995.
Black Ribbon: A Dog-Lover's Mystery RC 43462
by Susan Conant
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
A mystery embedded in an encyclopedia of information about
breeding and showing dogs. Holly Winter and her Alaskan
malamute, Rowdy, enjoy Waggin' Tail dog camp, where participants
eagerly compare dogs and exchange gossip. Then the spiteful Eva
Spitteler dies under a collapsing dog-training ramp, and Holly
suspects murder. 1995.
Artists in Crime RC 43463
by Ngaio Marsh
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Scotland Yard detective Roderick Alleyn must turn his interest
in the feisty artist, Agatha Troy, from personal to
professional. At Troy's artists' colony, a model is murdered,
and Alleyn is called in to investigate. Suspects abound,
including the lovely but aloof Troy. 1938.
The Rosewood Casket RC 43475
by Sharyn McCrumb
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Randall Stargill wants to leave this world in a handmade coffin
and calls his sons to his Tennessee home to build one out of
rosewood he has stored in the barn. Before Randall dies, though,
old friend Nora Bonesteel delivers a box of dark secrets she
says Randall would want buried with him. 1996.
A Secret Affair RC 43476
by Barbara Taylor Bradford
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
1 cassette
Bill Fitzgerald, foreign war correspondent, and Vanessa Stewart,
glass designer, meet in Venice. An immediate attraction starts
an affair during which they rendezvous several times in the U.S.
Then at a planned tryst in Venice, one of them does not appear.
Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
Dinotopia Lost RC 43486
by Alan Dean Foster
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
A utopian tale of Dinotopia, an island where humans and
dinosaurs live in harmony. When a pirate ship reaches its shores
and the marauding crew captures a dinosaur family, young pilot
Will Denison leads the rescuers into the perilous Rainy Basin
for a tense and fateful confrontation. 1996.
The Constellations RC 43488
by James Finney Boylan
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Fifteen-year-old Phoebe runs away in search of her mother,
leaving the adults at home to their lustful frenzy. Her offbeat
adventures include a trip to a tattoo parlor and discovery of a
latex brain. After three months, she rejoins her zany and
dysfunctional family. Strong language and descriptions of sex.
Sequel to The Planets (RC 34507). 1994.
Nathan's Run RC 43498
by John Gilstrap
read by John Stratton
2 cassettes
Nathan, an orphaned and abused twelve-year-old, is sentenced to
a detention center, where he kills a guard in self-defense.
Nathan escapes and is relentlessly pursued by police, as well as
by a hit man. While on the lam, the boy finds unlikely allies in
a conservative talk-show host and a cop. Strong language. 1996.
Legacies RC 43513
by Janet Dailey
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
It has been five years since Diane Parmelee saw Lije Stuart, yet
the attraction to each other is still very evident. But in this
sequel to The Proud and the Free (RC 40764), Lije, now a
Harvard graduate, is forced to return to his Cherokee Nation
home without Diane, as the country heads toward civil war. Some
violence and some descriptions of sex. 1995.
Sunset Express RC 43514
by Robert Crais
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
LAPD detective Angela Rossi says she recovered the murder weapon
from the garden of the victim's husband. But since Rossi was
once accused of planting evidence, Elvis Cole is hired to find
holes in her story. He follows another trail of clues that draws
him deeper into intrigue and danger. Strong language. 1996.
A Plague of Kinfolks: A Kate Mulcay Mystery RC 43520
by Celestine Sibley
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Atlanta reporter Kate Mulcay loves her log cabin and rustic
solitude, but the peace is broken when her homeless kinfolk
arrive. Then an old man disappears, a neighbor is murdered, and
Kate is a suspect. Some strong language. 1995.
Say You Love Me RC 43553
by Johanna Lindsey
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Kelsey Langton surprises herself by agreeing to be sold as a
mistress to the highest bidder. But she believes it is the only
way to help her uncle and younger sister. Kelsey is in for more
shocks when she learns the identity of her "owner" and
the secrets he harbors. Some strong language and some explicit
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
Blood and Thunder: A Nathan Heller Novel RC 43554
by Max Allan Collins
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
In this historical mystery set in 1935 Louisiana, detective Nate
Heller is hired to guard Senator Huey Long. When Long is killed,
the uncertain source of the fatal bullet leaves his widow's life
insurance claim in limbo. Heller resolves the matter and unmasks
the killer. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex.
1995.
Chance RC 43559
by Robert B. Parker
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Thin Air (RC 40561), a Mafia boss asks
Spenser and his sidekick, Hawk, to locate his missing
son-in-law. The two sleuths begin an odyssey through the seamy
streets of Las Vegas and find more than a missing person as they
uncover larceny, homicide, and a plot to control gangland
Boston. Strong language. 1996.
Legend RC 43560
by Jude Deveraux
read by Ann Hodapp
3 cassettes
Shortly before she is to marry, Kady Long impulsively buys an
old flour tin. Inside it she discovers a well-preserved satin
wedding dress, just the kind she's been looking for. She tries
it on and suddenly finds herself transported in time to a harsh
landscape where a man is about to be hanged. Descriptions of sex
and some strong language. Bestseller 1996.
For the Roses RC 43563
by Julie Garwood
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
Teenagers Adam, Douglas, Cole, and Travis are struggling to
survive in the alleys of New York City in the 1860s when they
discover an abandoned baby girl. Believing she would never
survive in an orphanage, the boys decide to keep her, and name
her Mary Rose. They become a "family," head west to
Montana, and take up ranching. Then Lord Harrison MacDonald
comes looking for a long-lost Lady Victoria. Some explicit
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1995.
The Sea King's Daughter RC 43570
by Barbara Michaels
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A romantic suspense novel about a young American girl
unexpectedly employed by her archaeologist father to dive
illegally for Minoan artifacts. As many frightening accidents
happen to her on the Greek island of Thera, she at first
suspects ancient spirits but finally discovers that a live enemy
wants her out of the way. Some strong language. 1975.
The Dirty War RC 43577
by Charles H. Slaughter
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
During the Argentine military coup of the late 1970s, two boys
spend their days scheming to earn tips from yanqui tourists.
When their friends and families become targets of the new
regime, the boys are drawn into a stark world of political
persecution and torture. Violence. For junior and senior high
readers. 1994.
The Flaming Corsage RC 43596
by William Kennedy
read by J.P. Linton
2 cassettes
This sequel to Very Old Bones (RC 35384) opens in 1908
with a murder-suicide by a husband who finds his wife in a hotel
room under compromising circumstances. The story goes on to limn
the complex romance and doomed marriage between an Irish
Catholic writer and a high-born Protestant woman. Descriptions
of sex. 1996.
Mazel RC 43628
by Rebecca Goldstein
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Seventyish Sasha Saunders believes in mazel--luck in Yiddish. In
fact it is mazel that has gotten Sasha to this place in
life--Lipton, New Jersey, where a granddaughter has recently
married and is expecting her first child. And as they await the
birth, Sasha looks back over her life as an actress in Poland
between the world wars, and the luck that has brought her to
this time. National Jewish Book Award. 1995.
The Forge RC 43658
by T.S. Stribling
read by Ilona Dulaski
3 cassettes
In this prequel to The Store (RC 43211), an Alabama
family, headed by slaveowner and cotton farmer Jimmie Vaiden,
finds their southern way of life profoundly affected by the
Civil War and its aftermath. Strong language. 1931.
The Best American Short Stories 1996 RC 43660
edited by John Edgar Wideman
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
Twenty-four stories with multicultural themes by new and
well-known writers. "The Eve of the Spirit Festival,"
by Lan Chang, chronicles the uneasy assimilation of an Asian
widower and his two daughters. In Mary Gordon's
"Intertextuality," a woman creates a vivid portrait of
her Irish grandmother. Descriptions of sex and some strong
language. Bestseller 1996.
Lost Laysen RC 43670
by Margaret Mitchell
read by David Palmer
1 cassette
A biographical introduction and a novella, both presenting
Mitchell writings first unveiled in 1995. The introduction
includes letters from the Gone with the Wind (RC 33082)
author to unsuccessful suitor Henry Love Angel. The novella, set
in the South Pacific, tells of a feisty female missionary, her
devoted suitor, and a smitten sailor. 1996.
The Partner RC 43685
by John Grisham
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Four years ago, attorney Patrick Lanigan faked his own death and
ran away with ninety million dollars belonging to his partners
and a client. Now he's been found, tortured, sued by numerous
parties including his wife, and charged with murder. Strong
language and violence. Bestseller 1997.
Hornet's Nest RC 43749
by Patricia Cornwell
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Police chief Judy Hammer, deputy chief Virginia West, and young
reporter Andy Brazil are perplexed by a serial killer who paints
his victims' genitals orange. Pursuing a trail of odd clues, the
trio tracks and brings down the culprit in a perilous climax.
Strong language and violence. Bestseller 1996.
Next section of Talking Book Topics | Previous section of Talking Book Topics | Talking Book Topics Home Page
Go to the NLS Home Page