Welcome to the Game

Spencer Burnham is a mess. Bereft after his wife’s death, he is struggling in his role as a single father to his 11-year-old daughter, Abby. He and Abby live with Spencer’s late wife’s uncle, but because of Spencer’s substance-use problems, Child Protective Service is threatening to remove Abby from his care. Spencer’s car dealership is almost bankrupt. Enter Dominic McGrath, a Detroit gangster looking for a skilled driver who can move fast and remain unseen. McGrath is planning a heist that will allow him to retire in luxury, and he appreciates Spencer’s formidable experience as a rally-car driver. Spencer accepts McGrath’s offer, only to be overwhelmed by the violence on the job; by then, however, quitting is not an option. Henderson’s fast-paced debut, narrated by Tim Campbell, is full of gritty characters who operate with impunity in Detroit’s underworld. Campbell’s well-rounded character voices and accents, in addition to his excellent pacing, will hold listeners’ attention to the end.