FLOWERS FOR HIS FUNERAL

Judith Boyd's exquisite pronunciation and crisp narration add to the comfortable delights of this early book in Ann Granger's mystery series about Chief Inspector Markby of Bamford. In this one, Markby and his companion, Meredith Mitchell, unexpectedly meet a former school friend of Meredith's. Even more unexpectedly, the school friend's husband is taken fatally ill. Soon Markby and Mitchell are caught up in a case of murder. The book is peopled with colorful characters, ranging from rural pub owners to gruff lady kennel keepers to oily civil servants. They give Boyd a chance to display her mastery of accents and vocal characterizations, and give the listener an extra chance for pleasure. That's what this is, pure pleasure. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]