BLOOD AT THE BOOKIES

In the ninth in the Fethering series, the murder of a Polish immigrant outside the local betting shop finds neighbors Jude and Carol attempting to solve the crime. While not particularly compelling, Brett’s mystery is made enjoyable by his excellent performance and his vocal creation of distinctive characters. The story itself feels like a blend of clichés, with unrequited love, a lecherous college lecturer, headstrong, romantically challenged students, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the two opposite but complementary friends who work together to solve the crime. As author-narrator, Brett obviously knows his characters and saves the day with his ability to project their personalities engagingly for listeners. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]