HEAD SHOT

As a brutal murder ring comes to light in the United States, an Edinburgh police precinct faces a killing spree of its own. Members of the force try to untangle both mysteries, facing personal loss in the process. James Bryce’s low, hypnotic voice brings shades of “NYPD Blue” to the Scottish thriller, maintaining the strict law enforcement code of professionalism and understatement throughout the story. Sadly, his American accents are abysmal and inconsistent, and mispronunciations make well-known regional places nearly unrecognizable. But when he sticks to Edinburgh, and when he speaks up instead of mumbling, the story rocks. Otherwise, it hypnotizes, particularly when listened to in the car. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 03]