PASSING STRANGE

Pour yourself a cup of tea, relax, and listen to this very British murder mystery, which methodically solves the murder of the village nurse, who is found strangled at the Almstone Flower show. Detective Inspector Sloan seeks clues as to opportunity, means, and, most perplexing, motive through painstaking interviews, crime reenactments, and deductions. The author plays straight with the listener. We all should have figured out who the villain was, but most likely few of us did. Reader Bruce Montague guides us through the investigation, making the town of Almstone believable and its many citizens real. His is a sensible portrayal with no falsetto-voiced females or plethora of country accents. He has a clear, well-modulated voice, which is easy to listen to, and his dignified delivery matches the cerebral nature of this mystery. D.L.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]