THE NATURE OF THE BEAST Chief Inspector Gamache/Three Pines, Book 11

As Louise Penny explains in the introduction to her newest Chief Inspector Gamache mystery, Robert Bathurst had much to live up to when he was selected to succeed longtime narrator Ralph Cosham, who passed away last year. She listened to hundreds of candidates before selecting the British actor, best known to American audiences from “Downton Abbey.” Be assured that her choice was right. Bathurst’s pleasant light baritone and sensitive pacing suit the thoughtful series—and this story about a boy who disappears after seeing something he shouldn’t. No matter that his English accent peeps out occasionally beneath a nice range of French and generalized North American voices. All is well for Penny’s myriad fans. A.C.S. 2016 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2015]