ACID ROW

Minette Walters's stories always come as a surprise because with each new book her subject matter is different from anything preceding it. ACID ROW is the descriptive misnomer given by the tenants of a British housing development, where angry teenagers reign, inciting a riot when a young girl disappears and they find out that a pedophile dwells within. Although I did not finish the book--which does not shy away from the potential tragedy of the situation--I did hear the complete audiobook with the help of Gerard Doyle, who holds the listeners' hands, or ears in this case, and allows them to travel the violent streets unscathed. His genuine attention to what he is reading and his innate feeling for all of the characters make this an outstanding production. J.P. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 03]