Audio Reviews: Week of 6/25/2007

Child’s 11th Jack Reacher novel finds the ultraresourceful, live-by-his-wits loner out for revenge against an unknown foe who, for some reason, is bumping off the members of his old military police squad. As if this weren’t already the answer to a thriller fan’s prayer, narrator Dick Hill is back on board. With an adaptable voice that conveys intelligence and more than a hint of wise guy attitude, Hill is the go-to guy when it comes to hard-boiled action. He gets a fair share of it, with Child’s lean prose taking his hero and three other surviving squad members through a series of perilous encounters. Hill has already perfected the aural equivalent of Reacher’s cool cynicism. Taking on the new trio, he provides security expert Frances Neagley with a no-nonsense brusqueness, forensic accountant Karla Dixon with a slightly softer tone, and Dave O’Donnell gets a snooty, waspish delivery that’s just about right for a D.C. private eye who looks like an aging Ivy Leaguer but carries a switchblade and brass knuckles in his pocket. Simultaneous release with the Delacorte hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 26). (May)

Despite the technicality of her birth at the tail end of the baby boom in 1964, comedian and actress Janeane Garofalo embodies a unique combination of edge and sincerity perfect for Buckley’s tale of Generation X activism. At 29, Washington “PR chick” Cassandra Devine launches a grassroots entitlement reform movement but quickly determines that only shock can break through people’s fog of apathy, so she floats a plan for baby boomer suicide—dubbed “voluntary transitioning”—as a means to preserve Social Security for future generations. Garofalo effectively portrays Cassandra’s angst amid the absurd scenario of her macabre treatise—inspired by Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal—entering the public policy mainstream. Garofalo also demonstrates tremendous vocal range with male characters, especially prolife leader Rev. Gideon Payne and Cassandra’s love interest and ally Sen. Randolph K. Jefferson. Yet, like his protagonist, Buckley seems compelled to address the topic at hand only through the boldest possible strokes of the satirical brush. Garofalo certainly does the colorful characters justice, but listeners may ultimately feel weighed down by the tone and scope of the overall experience. Simultaneous release with the Twelve hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 26). (May)

Contemporary horror owes many of its plot devices to the original master of horror, H.P. Lovecraft, and this latest volume of his short fiction presents three of those classic pieces. While “The Haunter of the Dark” includes a good mix of ancient deities, dark cults, magical artifacts and interdimensional beasts, listeners will additionally enjoy possession, obsession and a bit of questionable sanity with “The Thing on the Doorstep.” But what’s a good anthology of sinister stories without a deliciously devilish haunted house (“The Lurking Fear”) to satiate listeners’ aural appetites? Continuing his role as narrator, June maintains the intensity from previous volumes. His deep voice adds a dark and brooding atmosphere to these dread-filled stories. His timing and delivery also enhance the experience for listeners anticipating chills down their spine. Though his male vocal characters are not entirely the same, listeners may have some trouble distinguishing them; his female vocals fall flat. Listeners will enjoy the more dialogue-based stories since Lovecraft’s prose can sometimes be daunting and bothersome to sift through. (May)

Penny’s newest mystery returns to Three Pines, the bucolic but hardly idyllic hamlet south of Montreal where Inspector Gamache has his hands full contending with a pair of murders including that of a spiritual and domestic diva. Veteran reader Cosham isn’t the best choice for this project, although his rich baritone voice can mesmerize listeners. The entire town plus the local office of the Sûreté de Québec is swept up in these murders, but unfortunately, the citizens all sound alike, as do Em, Kay and Mother, who are referred to as the Three Graces. Cosham’s French is perfect, if a bit formal, but he uses the language spoken in Europe, not the Québécois dialect and pronunciation that would be used by the locals. His British accent is also a bit tony for this corner of Canada and its artistic but down-to-earth inhabitants. Despite the apparent miscasting, Cosham’space makes the witty narrative frothy and irresistible, like a good café au lait. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin’s Minotaur hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 12). (May)

Lisette Lecat doesn’t simply portray the characters in McCall Smith’s series about Botswana’s No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and the Speedy Motors car repair service that improbably share a building in the nation’s capitol city: she is Mma Ramotswe, that robust, throaty and ever-so-kind detective. Lecat is also Ramotswe’s husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, whose rumbling pronouncements sound as if they originate in one of the beaten-down Mercedes he tenderly mends. Ramotswe’s assistant, Mma Makutsi, makes her caustic comments in a pencil-sharp voice. Even Makutsi’s shoes, which offer advice to their wearer from time to time, have a down-to-earth tone to them. Each volume of this series offers Lecat a few new characters to inhabit. She does especially well with a rude, shrill client who thinks her husband is cheating on her. Even though the series is becoming a bit repetitious, Lecat brings so much love and skill to her rendition of the characters that this will charm both old fans and newcomers alike. Simultaneous release with the Pantheon hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 22). (May)

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, Earth’s mightiest superheroes, have lost touch with the people they protect just as the heroes of the DC Universe must face a crisis that will rip their universe apart. OMAC cyborgs ruthlessly hunt them. The Secret Society of Supervillains has organized and ravaged masked heroes everywhere. The intergalactic war between the Ran and Thangar races is spilling over onto Earth. A once well-known hero, Spectre has gone on a rampage destroying all magical beings, good or evil. Richard Rohan drives the narration with a cool, stern voice that brings the story alive when blended with the dynamic soundtrack and sound effects. Though some vocal actors aren’t the perfect match to their superhero counterparts, they all produce entertaining performances. The story-enhancing music ranges from calm and relaxing to intense and rapid. All serious actions within the production have their acoustic counterpart whether it’s the activation of heat-ray vision, the impact of a thrown fist or the echoing shots of gunfire. Graphic Audio delivers an action and sound effect–loaded audiobook that lives up to its tagline, “A movie in your mind.” (May)

Since the night she was born, Laura Shane has been continually saved by a mysterious guardian who appears and disappears without a trail. Through the years, these random encounters prove more and more life-threatening, sending Shane down a dark path to which her savior, Stefan, has unintentionally led her and her family. But as Shane realizes “when” not “where” Stefan is from, she must scramble for her life as her enemies seek her out. Her only hope is in the knowledge that when lightning strikes, her enemies are near. Koontz isn’t the first author to incorporate lightning with time travel, but he certainly shines new light on the subgenre of time travel. Koontz’s 1988 novel gains new life in this unabridged production. Christopher Lane captures listeners with a stern and serious voice that can still lighten up, especially when voicing Shane’s son, Chris, or other colorful characters. Lane’s vocalizing of characters proves impressive, authentic and even amusing for everyone but Shane, whose voice is adequate but fades in comparison to the other characters. Regardless, Lane’s narration improves upon the book by adding a tonal edge that will keep listeners’ attention throughout all 14 hours. (May)

An inspired choice for narrator, Sian Phillips gives perfect voice to protagonist Marie Sharp in this insightful and entertaining audio. In a British accent that is elderly yet full of spitfire, Phillips conveys all the facets of Marie’s distinctive personality: strong-willed, opinionated, witty, by turns delightfully acerbic and unabashedly sentimental. Marie looks forward to turning 60, seeing it as a time to relax, potter about and enjoy her grandchild without feeling guilty about being unproductive—and she refuses to allow anyone to tell her otherwise. Listening to Phillips’s reading, one can see the flash of fire in Marie’s eyes as she tells off a pompous psychologist, the hint of remorse that always follows her outbursts (because she really is an old softie, despite her determination to be a curmudgeon) and her deep love of her friends and family. Phillips also creates believable voices for the large supporting cast, including a Polish housecleaner, a young French girl renting a room in Marie’s house, an elderly gay couple and a Cockney drug dealer. Simultaneous release with the Viking hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 11). (May)

Reviewers were somewhat abrupt about perennial bestseller Connelly’s 13th Harry Bosch novel: “a quick read, almost half the length of Connelly’s previous novels,” said one; “a tasty hors d’oeuvre” quipped another. How smart and fortunate for listeners that Hachette Audio has turned to veteran Connelly reader Len Cariou for some added weight. Cariou catches all the strength and sadness behind Bosch’s minimal dialogue and is also perfect as Harry’s LAPD colleagues, female and male. He is especially good at bringing to frightening life the real villains: the federal investigators, headed by a former Bosch lover, FBI agent Rachel Walling. The Feds are trying to take over the case of a body found on an overlook near Mulholland Drive—a doctor who turns out to have had access to radioactive materials stored at hospitals throughout L.A. All praise to Hachette for getting Cariou to help us through it. The production boasts original music by Frank Morgan. Simultaneous release with the Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 2). (May)

Two murders separated by centuries make up the heart of this excellent literary mystery. Set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside during the summer of 1958, Mills’s novel tells the story of Adam Strickland, an art history major researching the 16th-century garden on the grounds of the Villa Docci. As Strickland studies the intricate sculptures and inscriptions in the garden, he deciphers a series of clues that hint at a murder committed more than 400 years ago. He also discovers evidence of another murder, this one only 14 years in the past. Unraveling the former mystery will find him a place in academic history, but solving the latter will place his life in danger. Stuart brings just the right touch to his reading of this intelligently written story. With an excellent use of his vocal talents, he moves easily from one character to another, never overplaying the accents or gender. His descriptive narration uses Mills’s prose to sweep the listener into a classic world of intrigue and suspense. Fans of P.D. James and the like will enjoy. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 5). (May)

Known primarily for his iconic character, Conan, Howard’s other writings delivered just as much action and adventure. This anthology of nine tales reveals some of his other earlier and lesser-known characters including Solomon Kane and King Kull, who feature in several pieces each. Originally published in Weird Tales, these stories become a nostalgic revival from the days of pulp magazines in this audio collection. Though Howard’s writing is plagued with melodrama and Eurocentrism, it still proves entertaining and exciting. While some supporting characters are one-dimensional, Kane and Kull gain more depth with each passing story. Utilizing different narrators for each story, Audio Realms brings quality and engaging talent to Howard’s words. Each narrator fits acutely well with the story he reads. Each maintains a strong, determined masculine voice, which embodies the predominantly male point of view throughout Howard’s works. This kind of adventure and fantasy entails harsh and gritty worlds with grim characters, which these narrators capture well with their stern and gravelly voices. A Wildside paperback. (May)

Pessl’s showy (often too showy) debut novel, littered as it is with literary references and obscure citations, would seem to make an unlikely candidate for a successful audiobook. Yet actor and singer Emily Janice Card (a North Carolina native like the author) has a ball with Pessl’s knotty, digressive prose, eating up Pessl’s array of voices, impressions and asides like an ice-cream sundae. Card reads as if she is composing the book as she goes along, with a palpable sense of enjoyment present in almost every line reading. Her girlish voice, immature but knowing, is the perfect sound for Pessl’s protagonist and narrator Blue van Meer, wise beyond her years even as she stumbles through a disastrous final year of high school. Card brings out the best in Pessl’s novel and papers over its weak spots as ably as she can. Simultaneous release with the Penguin paperback (Reviews, May 22, 2006) (May)

Of the few novelists who manage to combine the private eye and horror genres successfully, none does it better than Connolly. Here he gives his hapless hero, Charlie Parker, a man obsessed with the memory of the gruesome murders of his wife and daughter, a particularly disturbing case involving child predators and killers. It’s a grim story, including the reappearance of a Parker foe, the sinister and probably supernatural Collector who is drawn to “certain crimes” from which he extracts keepsakes. Sanders has the right kind of vocal timbre to suggest Parker’s tough–but–soul sick protagonist and the skill to give the gritty material a properly noir tone. As for the Collector, whom Connelly tells us “tastes words like unfamiliar food,” Sanders conjures up a raspy whisper that carries more than the hint of a distaste for life. It also contains an echo of Parker’s voice, which follows the author’s suggestion that the Collector may be a specter of the detective’s imagination. In any case, the sound, like the novel itself, is as unnerving as a fever dream. Simultaneous release with the Atria hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 26). (May)

Chabon’s storytelling, in this alternate history of a world where Jews were settled in Alaska after World War II, is vivid enough, with inventive metaphors packed in like tapestry threads, but Peter Riegert’s versatile voice makes the invented society even more tangible. Told through the eyes of Meyer Landsman, a police detective investigating a murder, the novel occurs in a “strange time to be a Jew,” as several characters ruefully put it: the special Jewish district will soon be controlled by Alaska again. In a bonus interview on the last disc, Chabon relates his desire to write about a place where Yiddish was an official language. The book is shot through with Yiddish phrases and names, which melodically roll off Riegert’s tongue. He gives Landsman and his tough but warmhearted partner Berko similar yet distinct gruff voices that contrast well with the effeminate-sounding sect leader and the Southern-accented Americans who come to start the land reversion process. Riegert’s pacing increases the enjoyment of this expertly spun mystery. Simultaneous release with the HarperCollins hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 5). (May)

The unusually large cast that reads Marks’s multiperspective, modern vampire story helps make up for the lack of special effects one might expect. There is no creepy music, no doors creaking or wind shrieking through the trees to augment the tale of what happens after Evangeline Harker, a lovely assistant producer of a venerable TV news show, travels to Romania to meet a fabled gangster. Her trip goes horribly wrong and soon her colleagues in New York are afflicted as well. Marks, a former 60 Minutes producer, is at his best when writing about the life of the newsroom, which we witness through the conversation and thoughts of people who are all concerned about Harker’s disappearance and the horrors that have followed, but who observe each other and the rest of the show’s staff with keen distrust and disdain. This reading adds little to the chilling story aside from the varied voices, yet as a novel take on the worn-out vampire story, with a steady drumbeat of macabre events alternating with dryly funny commentary, it is sure to hold listeners until the end. Simultaneous release with the Penguin Press hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 6). (Apr.)

Not to be confused with the historic Gospel of Judas (2006, National Geographic), this is a novella by “Benjamin Iscariot”—a fictionalized son of Judas who is eager to rehabilitate his father’s reputation. This collaboration between novelist Archer and Roman Catholic theologian Moloney changes a few things from the traditional story, e.g., refuting the notion that Judas committed suicide and attributing his betrayal of Jesus to the altruistic motive of trying to save his master’s life. But surprisingly, this fictionalized gospel doesn’t have enough fiction; it hews so closely to the chronology and cadence of the New Testament that character development suffers. And although the gospel adds some meticulously researched historical background, helping readers understand the context of first-century Judaism, other features that are prominent in the New Testament record—particularly miracles, healings, and the resurrection—are almost nonexistent. Desmond Tutu’s voice is marvelous in the narration, his lilting South African cadence breathing life into a disappointingly staid text. The final disc includes a brief video interview with Tutu and several minutes of footage of him in the recording studio. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin’s hardcover. (Apr.)

When first hearing William Dufris, as the cowboy/writer Otto Amlingmeyer, narrate Hokensmith’s second mystery, listeners might initially think they are hearing a children’s book. Not because of the content, but because of the downright goofy caricature of this Dr. Watson of the old West (to his brother Gustav’s Holmes.) Dufris’s over-the-top playing of Otto (aka Big Red) is initially jarring. However, within an hour, what seemed a distraction becomes a strength. In fact, Big Red soon endears himself to the listener as he recounts the tale of his illiterate would-be Sherlock Holmes big brother. It is no surprise that hyperbolic characterizations are natural to Dufris. Astute listeners may recognize his voice as TV’s Bob the Builder. His colorful characters are all a bit cartoonish and that ends up being part of the charm of this package. His women are breathy, his Asians are Chan-like, and his newsboy is a hopped-up Jimmy Olsen. Hockensmith’s material and Dufris’s thespian silliness are a perfect complement to one another: its Watson and Holmes, meet Martin and Lewis. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin’s Minotaur hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 18). (Mar.)

Each week, over four million National Public Radio listeners turn to Massachusetts mechanics Tom and Ray Magliozzi—aka “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers”—for an eclectic mixture of practical car repair advice, automotive consumer empowerment, razor-sharp puzzlers and self-deprecating wit. As both erudite MIT grads and gritty garage enthusiasts, Click and Clack would fit naturally into the Boston bar stools of the classic sitcom Cheers. At the close of each program, the siblings announce that their devotees have “squandered another perfectly good hour.” Their new audio collection consists of four complete 60-minute programs that the hosts deem their all-time favorites, including a visit from domestic diva Martha Stewart and a Mother’s Day memorial tribute to their mom. The recordings selected do happen to showcase some especially entertaining telephone queries, including a discussion of what to do when the friendly neighborhood fix-it shop finds out that you have “cheated” and visited your dealer for service. Fans who savor the familiar Car Talk rituals and quirks will appreciate the continuity, a rarity in the choppy waters of the “best-of” multimedia marketplace. (May)

Fortune columnist Stanley Bing offers listeners a two-for-one audio package that combines the newly updated edition of Crazy Bosses with his recent title Sun Tzu Was a Sissy. In Crazy Bosses, Bing sketches five prototypes of dysfunctional leadership: the bully, the paranoid, the narcissist, the wimp and the disaster hunter (a self-destructive amalgamation of multiple misbehaviors and misjudgments). Bing draws from both his own climb up the corporate ladder and current headlines to provide vivid examples of each category, and he offers concrete strategies for riding out the workplace storm with aplomb. In Sun Tzu Was a Sissy, Bing displays his characteristic tongue-in-cheek wit in examining why lessons from the ancient Chinese philosopher’s Art of War may not apply to contemporary business struggles. Bing delivers his works smoothly, projecting tones of deadpan sarcasm and animated mockery befitting the often irreverent content. His references presuppose considerable familiarity with the business media, and his point-of-view assumes a decidedly managerial or professional stance. Those who work to live rather than live to work do not represent the core audience for whom Bing serves up his red meat. Simultaneous release with the Collins hardcover (Crazy) and Collins paperback (Sun Tzu). (May)

Kate Reading’s dulcet tones, buttery and tuneful, make her sound more like a Wharton character than an audiobook reader. As it turns out, this is a very good thing, for Reading (named a “Voice of the Century” by AudioFile magazine) is exceptionally gifted when it comes to maintaining a uniform tone and holding on to listeners’ attention. She confidently steers listeners through Lee’s life of the great American writer and member of East Coast high society, which studies Wharton’s personal and professional lives in thorough detail. Reading is subtle, choosing to modulate her voice, carefully restricting it to a pleasant middle register. Listening to her reading is like hearing a long but pleasant anecdote from a well-trained, masterful storyteller. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 29). (May)

Rollin’s aggressively upbeat, humorous and reassuring ode to finding strength and optimism when life deals such bum raps as cancer, divorce and loss of a loved one is winningly brought to life thanks to Ward’s brisk, authoritative delivery that may remind some of Linda Ellerbee. Rollin’s pep-talk about finding an upside to every low blow is persuasive because she reveals her own anecdotes about surviving two bouts with breast cancer, a divorce and loss of a beloved parent. As Ward’s can-do narration reminds, “There is power, mountains of it, in humor,” but it also warns that illness is no joke: “A good attitude is always a good idea, but don’t count on it to cure disease.” Rollin doesn’t buy into the idea that the strong will win and the weak will lose. “I now know, as I didn’t before life nearly skidded to a halt, that, no matter what, there is usually a bright side up for grabs,” Ward intones. “One needs only to grab it.” This is an ideal gift for anyone facing hardships. Simultaneous release with the Random House hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 1). (May)

More than anything else, Blount provides an insightful and distinctive critique of Southern cultural disposition. He addresses the elitism of overall American (and in particular, Northern) culture to dispossess the South of legitimate and unstigmatized cultural existence. While recognizing the contradictions and misunderstandings about the South, Blount encourages listeners to be critical of all aspects of American culture, not just Southern culture. While a tenuous thread connects his essays, this rambunctious rambling ranges from outsider folk art and songs about food to sports. With a gruff voice and hints of a Southern accent, Blount offers an impressive performance. While reading lists on audio can often bore listeners, Blount uses emphasis and a quickened cadence to successfully compensate for his sometimes extensive lists. His harmonic voice proves especially enjoyable during his discussions of limericks and music. One puzzling aspect of this audiobook is occasional random voices injecting quotes. These quotes read by others are superfluous or hint at production problems since Blount reads most other quotes. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover. (May)