A COLD DAY FOR MURDER

Fans of the Kate Shugak mysteries will welcome this audio rendition of the first in the series. Marguerite Gavin has found a voice for Kate that captures--without being grating--a voice frazzled and nearly silenced in the violent struggle that caused Kate to leave her job as an investigator for the Anchorage D.A.'s office. This story finds her living in near isolation in her Aleut homeland, where she is asked to once again use her skills as an investigator when a park ranger disappears. In Gavin's care, the listener can imagine the somewhat eccentric characters. Gavin's characterization reflects their motivations and personalities as they do little to help Kate unravel this gnarly puzzle. One hopes that this is just the first of the series to be presented on tape. J.E.M. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 99]