NORTHERN LIGHTS

Carrying the baggage of his unhappy past, Nate Burke arrives in Lunacy, Alaska, to be chief of police. There he meets a variety of local characters, all well voiced, and runs headlong into a 16-year-old mystery involving the murder of a climber. His efforts to solve the crime meet with resistance from some residents, including the victim’s daughter, Meg, whom Nate romances. Gary Littman wisely gives the secondary characters unique tones so that they don’t get overused. Meg’s independence and Nate’s reawakened desire come through clearly, as do the descriptions of Alaskan scenery. Even the office intercom sounds genuine. Early on we hear selections from the climber’s journal, which would be better set off by longer pauses. This small reservation aside, Roberts’s latest hit novel could not be performed better. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]