Gold

In Cleave's novel, best friends and cyclists Kate and Zoe go head to head while representing Great Britain in the London Olympics. Zoe, who has won gold before, competes with the sense that life holds nothing for her save the thrill of competition and victory, while Kate%E2%80%94who missed previous Olympics while caring for her ill child%E2%80%94sees the competition as her last chance to prove herself. Emilia Fox's winning narration is clipped and clear, and stands in direct contrast to the unique voices she creates for the fiery Zoe and the slightly insecure Kate. Fox also produces a believable Australian accent for the athletes' grizzly coach and playful cadences for Kate's Scottish husband Jack. In all, this is an outstanding audio production, in which the performance serves the story and even enhances it. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (July)