Audio

Brown brings back Lt. Gen. Patrick McLanahan in this technothriller that touches on events in today's headlines. Russia wants back in the Middle East, Iran wants nuclear arms, and a rebel Iranian general asks Patrick for help. Enter an experimental U.S. spaceplane, the XR-A9 "Black Stallion," and we have a story that takes place on the ground, in the air, and in space. The tale is very exciting and may make one wonder what may not be in the headlines today. This barn burner is ably read by Christopher Lane, who has a somewhat staccato delivery but is quite animated without being overdramatic. He is able to render credibly a range of accents for the various characters. Public libraries should consider.—Michael T. Fein, Central Virginia Community Coll., Lynchburg

Twenty-five-year-old Alexandra Gaither is a Texas state prosecutor, whose mother, Celina, was murdered when she was an infant. Since her grandmother has always considered her the cause of the murder, Alex is driven to solve the mystery of her mother's death in an effort to earn her grandmother's love. Strangely, she gets permission from the state district attorney to reopen the case but must complete her investigation in one month's time. Alex has three suspects: her mother's lover, Sheriff Reede Lambert; town mogul Angus Minton; and Minton's son Junior. Sexual tension grows immediately between Alex and Reede even though he is 25 years her senior and could possibly be her father. Angus pushes Junior to seduce Alex in order to halt the investigation, which threatens his plans for a racetrack. The creepy result is that the same two men who loved the mother become rivals for the affections of the daughter. Alex, who is described as a strong, self-made woman, comes across as a neurotic weakling who wreaks havoc in order to satisfy her own needs. Award-winning reader Dick Hill does his usual outstanding presentation; however, even he cannot save this one. The characters and the plots are unbelievable and unappealing. Purchase only for adult fiction collections where Brown is a favorite.—Nancy Reed, Immanuel Baptist Church Lib., Paducah, KY

In his many years of service with the New Orleans police department and the New Iberia sheriff's department, Dave Robicheaux has faced evil and danger in its many forms. But his life is about to change as New Orleans—"the city that care forgot"—is about to fall victim to a catastrophe that will dwarf all the ills that have previously beset it. As Hurricane Katrina sweeps into the city, residents who were not able to flee can't begin to know that even worse destruction will occur when the levees fail. With the city in chaos, law enforcement officers from New Iberia are called in to help restore a semblance of order. As Dave gets pulled into the turmoil, his wife and daughter are about to face their darkest hour. This is one of Burke's best and will keep listeners enthralled. Will Patton's performance makes the author's prose sing. This book is essential for all libraries, as Burke has captured in eloquent fiction an event that allowed us to see "an American city turned into Baghdad." Highly recommended.—Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville

Big Arthur Key, ace Hollywood stunt scene builder, drifts into Idaho, the better to hide from his past. He serves as mentor to 19-year-old Ronnie Panelli, who's making transitions from boy to man, from thief to carpenter. Together, they're hired by Darwin Gallegos, who is filled with rage at his wife's recent death in a fluke accident. Their project is to build a ramp for a daredevil motorcycle jump across a canyon. None of the men is particularly verbose, especially about his feelings, so Carlson's achievement here is to portray those feelings, and the men's growing friendship, in terms of jobs well done, tools competently handled, meals shared, lessons learned, and gorgeous landscapes. Carlson seems deliberately to avoid the more spectacular elements latent in his work, as he also does in his understated reading of his first novel in 25 years. This audiobook sneaks up on the listener, reminding us how rare is the book that describes men without recourse to violence, sex, or intoxication. A quiet gem; recommended for all libraries.—John Hiett, Iowa City P.L.

Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus fans will rejoice at another popular Kellerman murder mystery featuring the LAPD lieutenant and his sleuthing family. A small plane has crashed into an apartment building. The remains of the passengers have been found except those of flight attendant Roseanne Dresden, whose father doubts that his daughter was on the doomed flight and is convinced that her philandering husband Ivan has murdered her. The crumbling body of an unidentified murder victim is found in the rubble of the destroyed building, and although it's not Roseanne, it is linked to her in an unbelievable way. An excellent reading by George Guidall brings out the varied personalities of the characters; the voice of Roseanne's father is especially interesting. The coincidences in this book are a little too far-fetched, and although Peter's wife, Rina, and daughter Cindy and her husband, Koby, make an appearance, they do not play major roles in helping Peter solve the case. Recommended for the murder mystery section of libraries that collect the Decker/Lazarus series.—Ilka Gordon, Park Synagogue Lib., Pepper Pike, OH

Set in the Midwest during the last year of World War II, this book brings back Carl Webster, the U.S. marshall whom Leonard introduced in The Hot Kid. This time Carl is on the trail of two escaped German prisoners of war, one of whom aspires to be a real cowboy while the other runs off with a Jewish woman. Carl himself gets tangled up with Honey, a beautiful young woman once married to a German American butcher who prides himself on being a dead ringer for Nazi SS commander Heinrich Himmler. Carl's investigation eventually leads him to an inept Nazi spy ring and a nest of bizarre characters who could form the nucleus of a promising freak show. Compared with Leonard's other novels, Up in Honey's Room is slow moving and doesn't have a particularly satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, its quirky characters and interesting period setting should fascinate many listeners, who will also enjoy Arliss Howard's laconic narration. Recommended for libraries with established Leonard fans.—R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA

First novelist Lutz introduces a comical mystery series with this book, which features the Spellman family of private eyes. Twenty-eight-year-old Isabel "Izzy" Spellman has a problem with her bosses at Spellman Investigations, namely, her parents. The family business consists of Albert and Olivia, Izzy, and precocious 14-year-old daughter Rae, named after another member of the business, Uncle Ray. Rae's primary job within the firm is keeping track of Izzy for her parents; Izzy had been a problem child, and they fear she may lapse at any moment. The eldest of the Spellman children, David, an attorney, isn't part of the firm but is often called upon to negotiate among family members. The Spellmans spend a lot of time surveilling each other as they all try to find out who is doing what and to, or with, whom. Christina Moore does a good job reading; each character's voice has a unique nuance that makes it easy to follow the person speaking. Recommended for public libraries.—Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." NYPD detective Lauren Stillwell finds out the hard way that a lie is the most difficult thing to keep alive. After seeing her husband entering a hotel room with another woman, Lauren jumps to the conclusion that he is cheating on her and, in retaliation, she has a one-night "quickie" with a fellow police officer. If this were the end of the story, it would still qualify as interesting fiction, but Patterson and Ledwidge have no intention of making things easier for Lauren. What begins as a simple act of desperation soon evolves into a complex and often deadly series of cover-ups, lies, and deceptions. Actress Mary Stuart Masterson skillfully keeps the suspense moving, giving each character a distinct personality, and helping listeners overcome the occasional florid prose by pulling us deeper and deeper into the "tangled web" Lauren creates. Highly recommended for all libraries; Patterson is sure to have a large and loyal following.—Joseph L. Carlson, Allan Hancock Coll., Lompoc, CA

Perry's fourth entry in her World War I series finds army chaplain Joseph Reavley and his sister, Judith, an ambulance driver, coping with the horrors associated with the battle at Passchendaele. Joseph is then called upon to investigate the death of an incompetent officer who may have been murdered by his men. The story drags a bit at times but picks up considerably during the climactic trial. Perry's usual attention to detail and passionate depiction of loyalty and honor in wartime help overcome Michael Page's flawed reading. Page makes the concern and anger of the characters seem, at times, more like peevishness and hysteria. Still, recommended for collections where this series has proven popular.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr.

The other kids picked on Peter Houghton from the time he was in kindergarten all the way into high school. The bullying escalated from swiping his lunch and smashing his eyeglasses to slamming him into lockers. Finally, one morning in March, Peter takes a gun to school; in 19 minutes, nine students and a teacher are dead. Picoult has a keen ability to take a situation from today's headlines beyond sensationalism to examine the emotions and relationships of all those involved. Peter's parents are well intentioned but clueless about the pain their son experiences daily. Alex Cormier is the judge who will be hearing Peter's case. She is a single mom to Josie, who was Peter's childhood playmate but left him behind when she moved up to the popular crowd. Josie's boyfriend, Matt, not only bullied Peter but displayed increasingly abusive behavior toward her. There are no neat solutions as the tension builds, and unexpected testimony provides a surprise ending. The excellent narration by Carol Monda is especially effective with the teenagers' voices. Highly recommended for adult and high school collections.—Nann Blaine Hilyard, Zion-Benton P.L., IL

New York City cop Eve Dallas and her husband, Roark, attend an opening of a performance of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution at Roark's new theater. Eve is unfamiliar with the classic story, but she responds to it with her cop's instincts and recognizes the perpetrator long before the finale. However, the play ends unexpectedly even for Roark, when the villain is actually killed in the last scene. Eve immediately takes control. With her trusted assistant, Peabody, she must find out who substituted the real knife for the prop and thus caused an actress unwittingly to commit murder. It soon becomes clear that the victim was an evil creep who ruined lives for his own sport. Most of the other actors had reason to kill him, and professional actors are pretty good at playing innocent. Susan Ericksen has become the voice of Eve Dallas for audiobook listeners and continues to delight us with her interpretations—tough, sharp, irritable Eve; warm, melodious Irish Roark; and down-to-earth Peabody. Listeners who are familiar with Christie's work will find Robb's 21st-century version amusing. Recommended for all collections.—Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA

In this romantic thriller, Ventura County, CA, probation officer Carolyn Sullivan investigates the apparent suicide of her childhood friend Veronica Campbell. Carolyn realizes how little she really knew about Veronica while probing to find the killer, as she believes it was murder and manages to uncover numerous secrets. The use of the pathological liar Drew as a pivotal character creates confusion within the work, and the tale's resolution is unsatisfying, for all is not revealed by the story's end. Sandra Burr's narration is clear and riveting as she maintains the integrity of the various characters during this sometimes disjointed but suspenseful tale of incest and death. The combination of romance and legal thriller doesn't work well here, where credibility is stretched too thin for most listeners, except, perhaps, those who follow the series. Recommended for larger collections only.—Denise A. Garofalo, Astor Home for Children Lib., Rhinebeck, NY

Edgar Award-winning author Scottoline's new legal thriller features Natalie (Nat) Greco, a University of Pennsylvania law professor with a knack for history and storytelling and a firm belief in justice. It is this commitment that compels Nat to accompany a colleague to a prison-held legal aid clinic. When a riot breaks out, Nat becomes the witness to a dying man's last words, which causes her life to spiral rapidly out of control. In a quick succession of events, Nat stands accused of murder and finds herself living as a fugitive. Unfortunately, Daddy's Girl is not as compelling as previous Scottoline novels, but the writing remains fast paced and full of appropriately placed humor. And, fortunately, reader Barbara Rosenblat again gives an amazing performance of the author's work, conveying a distinct personality and voice for each character. The audio production flows well and is of good quality. Recommended, but not an essential purchase; particularly suited for public libraries with general fiction and/or mystery collections and for those that include previous Scottoline titles.—Nicole A. Cooke, Montclair State Univ. Lib., NJ

Echoing Henry David Thoreau's life at the edge of Walden Pond, Beston's year on the beach of Cape Cod results in a classic record of a naturalist's encounter with an environment still unspoiled. Though Beston lives that year by himself in a small house built on the edge of the beach, he is never alone. Surrounded by a large variety of migrant birds, he delights in watching their habits up close and muses on the forces impelling them. Members of a nearby Coast Guard station offer occasional human company as well, but Beston's main focus stays on the rich variety of life around him. He describes the minutest detail of this world in thrilling language. He sees the full spectrum of colors in the waves, the sky, the topographical features of the Cape, the vegetation, and, of course, the fish and birds. While maintaining a respectful distance, he communicates an appreciation of the environment that is vitalized by his superb prose rhythms and a vocabulary that captures every nuance of his meaning. Brett Barry's narration is ideally suited to Beston's principal work, and Daniel Payne's interview with the author, though relatively brief, enhances the book's message. Highly recommended.—Bernard E. Morris, Modesto, CA

In his 2004 Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, Perkins revealed his role in the 1970s and 1980s in what he described as the ruthlessness with which the United States used economic manipulation and political coercion to extend its power and control over other nations. His job included convincing underdeveloped countries to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development and to make sure that the development projects were contracted to U.S. multinationals. Building on this work's notoriety, Perkins now offers similarly troubling descriptions of his view of how the American government is wreaking havoc around the world in support of American business. Drawing on many interviews with unnamed economic hit men, jackals, CIA operatives, reporters, and activists, the author explores the conditions in world hot spots as he presents his perspective on the "geopolitical crisis." While his effort to delve into the "secret history" that explains why the world is now dangerous and no longer sustainable, who is responsible for the current problems, and what can be done to change things for the better for the next generations is admirable, his lack of cited sources and his broad-brushed approach results in material that may appeal more to those with a taste for conspiracy theories. Serious students, researchers, and journalists will want to use reliable academic political science, business, and economics journals to follow these issues. Thankfully, the author's weak, breaking voice narrates only the introduction, while the remainder of the material is solidly presented by Jonathan Davis. Recommended only for university libraries.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX

As Hitler's plans for the master race were gaining speed in 1930s Germany, his Aryan ideal was turned upside down by a single American. Although Jesse Owens's impact at the 1936 Olympics is now part of our national legacy, the story of how he got to the Olympics and how he was able to achieve his success have largely been overlooked. Schaap (Cinderella Man) provides an enthralling narrative of the many athletic events that led to Owens's accomplishments. He describes how the Nazis tried to prevent all nonwhite athletes from competing, and yet Owens's German opponents were remarkably supportive and helpful. Michael Kramer provides a measured and understated narration. Patrons interested in history and sports will enjoy this audiobook. Recommended.—Ray Vignovich, West Des Moines P.L.