Audio Reviews

Lowlifes have never had it this good. Will Patton delivers a flawless reading of Johnson's novel of life on the lam. Patton, whose narration of Johnson's Book of Smoke was honored with an Audie Award, lowers his voice to a purring world-weary, chain smoking growl. He embodies each character with absolute authority—gambling addict Jimmy Luntz, on the run from kingpin Juarez, Juarez's bumbling strongman Gambol and the alcoholic karaoke aficionado, Anna Desilvera, who has the FBI on her tail. Listeners will be hooked—and quite possibly in stitches—from the first sentence of Patton's virtuosic performance. A Farrar, Straus & Giroux hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 12). (Apr.)

Single mother and journalist Ellen Gleeson is unsettled by a “Have You Seen This Child?” flyer that features a child disconcertingly similar to her adopted son. Curiosity compels her to investigate further, and as evidence spirals closer to the truth, Ellen's horror rises as she uncovers broken trails and untimely deaths that may or may not be related to her own situation. As skillful as Scottoline's thriller is, it is enhanced by Mary Stuart Masterson's performance. Her characterizations are distinct and evocative, her tone remains smooth, even while ratcheting up the tension and suspense. Listeners will be wholly absorbed by this moving story. A St. Martin's hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 16). (Apr.)

Perhaps overcompensating for her lethargic renderings of other Higgins Clark thrillers (e.g., Where Are You Now?), Jan Maxwell picks up pace smartly. The narration is a shade frenetic in the beginning, as Maxwell breathlessly introduces the key players (the murdered actress, Natalie Raines; her husband—and chief suspect—Greg Aldrich; assistant prosecutor Emily Wallace; and her serial killer stalker, Zach Lanning) in an overly upbeat chirp. The quick tempo works better as the plot slogs through procedural matters. All of the men, however, sound too much alike and the women's voices also blur at key points. These flaws aside, this audio book proves entertaining summer listening. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 30). (Apr.)

Benchley's novel, while better known as the source material for Steven Spielberg's classic movie, has earned its own stripes as a small gem of suspense fiction. With another summer fast approaching, audio listeners may be interested in revisiting the town of Amity, Long Island, and getting back in the water. Erik Steele, a theater and film actor, chomps into Benchley's raw prose with appetite, enjoying every bite of gore and social observation. Making ample use of well-placed pauses and silences, Steele amplifies not only the suspense, but Benchley's surprisingly well-honed characterizations. The experience, of course, is markedly different from Spielberg's film, offering shocks less visceral and more contemplative. A Random House hardcover. (Apr.)

Martin Jarvis brings the madcap world of Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves to life with canny comedic timing and wildly varied voices that capture the essence of each of the many characters. In P.G. Wodehouse's classic stories about a gentleman and his gentleman's gentleman, we follow the hapless but lovable Bertie from one misadventure to the next—accidental engagements, calamitous lunches with the terrifying Aunt Agatha, clashes with noted nerve specialists and run-ins with bizarre political parties—each imbroglio neatly put right in the end by the faithful Jeeves. Jarvis perfectly conveys the spirit and sheer joy of these beloved stories in an audio book that will delight both Wodehouse fanatics and newcomers to the author's work. An Overlook hardcover. (Apr.)

Wang's novel—based partially on his own experience—of learning English study during China's Cultural Revolution—is rather botched by a confusing performance by Christopher Lee. Lee's stop-and-start reading, overly careful parsing and somewhat stilted performance of the book's dialogue impedes listeners from immersing themselves in this critically and commercially successful Chinese novel. The pauses, rather than adding to the drama, conspire to suck it out of this story of totalitarian inhumanity, familial squabbling and the glories of learning English. Lee sounds like he is reading from a script he is unfamiliar with, with meaning and momentum taking a backseat to his careful pronunciation. A Viking hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 2). (Apr.)

In Leon's 18th novel, Commissario Brunetti delves deeply into Venice's (literal and figurative) pollution, navigating the choked canals as he tries to solve the murder of a truck driver. When his father-in-law asks him to look into the background of a potential business partner, Brunetti becomes fascinated with the business partner's wife—a former beauty now ravaged by a ruinous face lift. If the story evolves slowly, David Colacci manages to keep listeners hooked. His deep and direct voice drives the narrative, and his seamless transitions from description to dialogue are particularly impressive given the book's range of accents, genders and vocal styles. Despite the strong projection of his voice, Colacci can still shift his tone with his vocal characters to convey two people talking in confidence. His interpretation of Leon's book proves an excellent example of how a narrator can improve the actual story. An Atlantic Monthly hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 23). (Apr.)

Finding herself responsible for her troubled sister's newborn son, advice columnist Ella Varner is determined to track down the baby's father so she can get back to her own life. The first of her sister's former dates she confronts is Houston playboy, Jack Travis—who disarms her with his charm and sincerity. Her growing affection for both the baby and Jack throws her ordered life and her relationship with her boyfriend, Dane, into upheaval. Emily Durante provides a polished reading; her voice is smooth and pleasing, but her light tone and youthful manner of speaking would be better matched with a younger character than this book's strong heroine. A St. Martin's hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 2). (Mar.)

After enduring a childhood of poverty, violence and exploitation, Ram Muhammad Thomas wins a game show prize of one billion rupees. But the producers believe he has cheated and send him to the police to coerce a confession. Now, Thomas must defend his achievement and explain how a nobody without formal education won against impossible odds. Christopher Simpson's performance is both compelling and questionable; he conveys emotion powerfully but his mimicry of an Indian accent might make some listeners uncomfortable and sap the authority of the first-person narrative. Fans of the Academy Award–winning film adaptation of the novel (originally published as Q&A) will find that this version offers nuanced pleasures of its own. A Scribner hardcover. (Mar.)

In this suspenseful sequel to City of Fire, LAPD detective Lena Gamble is assigned to investigate the gruesome killing of a local prostitute who has been dismembered and left in a Dumpster. The chances of solving the case look hopeless—until a mysterious witness sends Gamble critical evidence, thrusting her into a quagmire of corruption and danger. Eanna Hurst delivers an excellently paced reading, shifting between pitched gun battles, contemplative musings and simmering suspense. Her focused performance brings Gamble to life, allowing the author's flawed and fully rounded character to emerge. A good listen that will scintillate thriller fans. A St. Martin's Minotaur hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 1). (Mar.)

When David Spandau, a former stuntman turned private investigator, is hired to protect movie star Bobby Dye from mobster (and would be movie producer) Richie Stella, he finds himself embroiled in a world of drugs, blackmail and murder. Don Leslie's deep-voiced, matter-of-fact delivery fits perfect with the author's hard-boiled prose. Both writer and reader sparkle in the dialogue: the opening scene where two bickering thugs are charged with picking up a dead body is both morbid and laugh-out-loud funny. Leslie is adept in his characterizations of numerous Hollywood types, giving each their own distinctive voice. But it is his interpretation of Spandau, whose world-weariness seeps through his wisecracks, that reaches out to the listener. Depp has created a classic American PI, with a nice Tinseltown twist, and Leslie expertly brings him to life. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 19). (Mar.)

In Rollins's second thriller, Department of Defense Special Agent Vin Cooper, behaving like James Bond on steroids, beds twice as many women, solves three times the cases and takes five times the beatings as 007. The over-the-top adventure needs a reader who can match Cooper's smart-aleck attitude. Mel Foster's measured, carefully enunciated approach produces just the opposite effect, taking the edge off of the humor and spotlighting the book's less-credible action sequences (i.e., Cooper is tossed from a plane without a parachute, is captured and beaten, escapes by donkey and is ready for a new assignment). To his credit, Foster does not stint when it comes to emotional dialogue and handles a range of accents, from Cockney to Pakistani, smoothly and effectively. And his unhurried reading clarifies a complex plot that includes a marine biologist being killed by a shark, a possible skydive suicide of Cooper's pal and the theft of a formula that could destroy all computer life on the planet. A Bantam hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 26). (Mar.)

Award-winning veteran narrator George Guidall gives a masterful performance of White's latest Doc Ford suspense thriller, creating well-drawn characters, including a grizzled ex-wrestler, two Cuban kidnappers, a teenage boy, a snobby Hamptons millionaire and Ford's hippie colleague. The scenes in which Ford painstakingly pieces together clues and provides backstory tend to drag a bit, but the action sequences are gripping and nail-bitingly suspenseful. Mystery fans are well advised to snatch this one up. A Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 19). (Mar.)

When a plane carrying the U.S. secretary of state, en route to a Middle East peace conference, disappears over Libya, the techno-wizards aboard the supership Oregon try to track it down and recover any survivors. Juan Cabrillo and his crew discover a terrorist presence that reaches to the highest levels of the Libyan government. This exciting story translates well into audio format, and Scott Brick's performance enhances the action-adventure. His moderate tone makes for easy listening, and his clarity renders the scientific and political elements—and intrigues—at the heart of the book comprehensible. Brick has narrated previous Cussler novels and his renditions of the characters will be familiar to fans, who will find themselves in the company of old friends. A Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 26). (Mar.)

Jeff Woodman creates an excellent portrayal of a painfully self-conscious young man trapped in a charismatic but violently dysfunctional family sequestered with their dozen dogs in a house on Martha's Vineyard. He renders the various members of the family—the wealthy and obnoxious grandfather, the ever-drunk, ever-vicious father and uncle, the nutty Marxist mother—with artistry and enthusiasm. Any weakness in this performance is due to the novel's failings: the characters are stereotypes, the style overburdened with similes and digressive anecdotes satirizing contemporary literature. Despite Woodman's considerable skill and best efforts, this listening disappoints. A Twelve hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 10). (Mar.)

Williams's classic play begins with Blanche DuBois's arrival in New Orleans to stay with her sister and brother-in-law, Stella and Stanley Kowalski. The determinedly genteel Blanche is shocked by their lower-class lifestyle—and by Stanley's frequently aggressive behavior. As Blanche's secrets catch up with her, a seedy reality trumps her love for romance. Rosemary Harris embodies Blanche with all the flare, attitude and Southern drawl commonly associated with the cultural icon. The role of Stanley is so physical that his presence is diminished by the lack of a visual performance, but James Farentino's Stanley is excellent. The overall production quality is excellent with musical segues and sound effects that enhance without distracting the listeners. This recording captures the cast of the 1973 Broadway revival (which won Harris a Drama Desk award and Farentino a Theatre World award). (Feb.)

Reichl combs through her dead mother's diaries and correspondence, trying to understand the woman she remembered as bitterly unhappy. She realizes how stifling were the expectations on 1950s housewives and how her mother blamed her depression on her inability to seek meaningful work outside the home. The revelations are fascinating, but Reichl's effort would have been better served by a professional narrator. While her deep, slightly hoarse voice conveys emotion sufficiently, she is an awkward reader, prone to loading her sentences with wooden emphasis and reaching for amateurish dramatic effect. Readers are likely to be struck by her ability to see her mother so clearly and without sentimentality, but they won't lose themselves in the reading. A Penguin Press hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 9). (Apr.)

Conservative talk show host Levin launches a somewhat rambling indictment of liberalism in this book that pillories liberals for undermining the Constitution and individual freedoms. In a series of screeds, the author rails against the expected bogeymen (big government, big spending, environmentalism) and argues that conservative values are the surest prophylactic against what he regards as an increasingly tyrannical American government. Adam Grupper proves to be the ideal reader for the material; his calm and measured tone remains steady even as Levin's critiques reach their shrillest pitch. His unruffled delivery grounds the occasional bursts of hysteria, and his matter-of-fact newscaster's delivery buttresses Levin's argument. Listeners on any end of the spectrum will appreciate the efficiency of Grupper's reading. A Threshold hardcover. (Mar.)

Masson combines solid research and deft prose in a persuasive argument in favor of a vegan diet. Drawing on such critics of the industrial food systems as Michael Pollan, he explores whether humans really need to be omnivores to get adequate nutrition. His work pulls from Temple Grandin's studies to reveal how powerfully animals feel terror during slaughtering and the scope of their suffering. Fred Stella does justice to the text in conveying Masson's sincerity and enthusiasm. He presents the research with admirable clarity and his straightforward delivery makes the author's findings on animal cruelty even more horrifying. A revelatory listening experience that will inspire its audience to reconsider their lifestyles. A Norton hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 24). (Mar.)

Walsh delivers a pitch-perfect reading of his guide to conducting a full-life audit and organizing one's six major spheres (relationships, family, work, money, health and spirituality). Walsh's analysis is clear and well-structured, and he presents his prescriptions in an even-keeled, candid voice, never veering into preachy or condescending tones. The first of the five CDs is imbedded with a PDF containing printouts (quizzes for self-analysis, exercises for implementing suggested strategies and a calendar) to use while following along with the audio. Anyone with chaos in one or more of Walsh's six categories will find this a fun and helpful listen. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 17). (Mar.)

One would be forgiven for assuming that the reader of Farivar's memoir of war, religious fundamentalism and escape is, like its author, a native Afghan. With his mellifluous accent, and Britain-by-way-of-Kabul pronunciation, Christopher Lane superbly echoes the sound of Afghan English without any shade of parody. The result is a deeper immersion in Farivar's story of growing up in the relatively peaceful Afghanistan that predated the Soviet invasion of 1979, his time spent passionately devoted to the Qur'an in a religious school, and his studies at an East Coast prep school and Harvard after his arrival in the United States. An Atlantic Monthly hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 20). (Mar.)

This biography delves deeply into Senator Kennedy's nearly half-century legislative career—but it's the personal dramas that prove the most enthralling; tracks are organized such that listeners bored by the politics can click ahead for a quit exit back to Hyannisport, Georgetown, Palm Beach or Chappaquiddick. Skipp Sudduth imbues his narration with feeling, recounting the numerous tragedies (the death of all three of Kennedy's brothers, his son's cancer and subsequent leg amputation, his nephew JFK Jr.'s fatal plane crash and now his own brain tumor) with quiet dignity. Despite the countless trials, this is anything but depressing listening; the resilience and indomitable optimism of the subject himself is well-conveyed by this enjoyable recording. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (Feb.)

In this expanded and updated version of his 1999 book Loving Solutions, Chapman draws on years of counseling couples with severe marital problems to argue that most marriages can be saved. Chris Fabry's smooth radio-style baritone is always easy on the ears, but his upbeat delivery strikes a false note, especially when cheerfully describing intractable spousal strife. Many of the problems (dealing with spouses who are irresponsible, abusive, depressed or addicted, for example) won't apply to everyone, and the audio format makes it difficult for listeners to skip around. A bonus of the audio version is a 15-minute telephone interview with the author on the final CD discussing his concept of “love languages,” his personal life and career, his Christian faith, the problems of his own early marriage and the genesis of this book. A Northfield paperback. (Feb.)

The recording of Kahn's 1986 biography arrives at a fitting crossroads. As the public wades deeper into the waters of reality television, 24/7 media coverage and celebrity overexposure, the star-crossed—and frenetic press coverage—of DiMaggio and Monroe's pairing more than 50 years ago is surprisingly relevant. Dick Hill puts his slightly nasal delivery and urban-tinged accent to remarkably good use, and his portrayal of young Marilyn's Dickensian journey through a series of foster homes and orphanages remains especially haunting. Evocative and never affected, Hill's narration is compelling even for those listeners already familiar with the biographical revelations. An Avon paperback. (Feb.)

Roberto Escobar provides an intimate portrait of his brother, Pablo Escobar, the infamous leader of the Medellin drug cartel. He makes a strenuous—if not entirely persuasive—effort to reveal his brother's more sensitive side and to argue that the Colombian and U.S. governments exaggerated the degree of Pablo's involvement in the cartel. The book's organization is spotty and the familial bias often frustrates—listeners will likely crave a more unvarnished biography—but Ruben Diaz provides an unimpeachable performance. With an authentic, never grating accent, he narrates so sincerely that the audience might believe they are listening to Roberto himself. A Grand Central hardcover. (Feb.)