NO FIXED LINE Kate Shugak, Book 22

It's a trifecta! Good narration, good writing, and good plot are all part of this audiobook, the 22nd entry in the renowned Kate Shugak crime series, which takes place in Alaska. The story opens with two young children surviving a plane crash and then takes on some heavy topics--child sexual abuse, immigration, racism, and drug dealing. Happily, it's not all gloom, and the hard stuff is leavened by humor elsewhere. The listener can hear the smile lurking behind Gavin's words when Stabenow's story calls for it. Gavin also does children's voices without sounding infantile, handles accents well, and makes gender differences clear with just a slight change in pitch. All in all, a terrific performance in service of a terrific story. G.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2020]