The Yard

In this mystery set in post-Jack the Ripper London, Scotland Yard must solve the murder of one of its own detectives, who is found dead with his eyes and mouth sewn shut. The largely male cast of characters is portrayed sympathetically—perhaps too much so to be entirely believable—but listeners will root for the modest Inspector Day, who earns promotion after marrying above his social class (among other things, the shame of having to eat mock instead of real turtle fuels his determination to succeed). Likewise, the haunted Dr. Kingsley will rouse interest, as the emerging art of forensic science is revealed through his investigations. Subplots proliferate, and gritty details abound, including in one harrowing murder scene told from the victim's perspective. Narrator Toby Leonard Moore subtly voices the characters, matching accent and tone with social class and disposition but never overdoing the performance.