ALONE

After Massachusetts State Trooper/SWAT Officer Bobby Dodge kills a man during a hostage standoff, he finds himself in the middle of a series of murders and lies that almost defy belief. The cast of characters includes a corrupt judge, a vixen wife, and a psychopath released from prison. Anna Fields’s narration is both good and bad. She paces the story well, using pauses and other subtle devices for emphasis. But when Fields reads male characters, her voice is throaty and unconvincing, sounding as though she’s recovering from a chest cold. In addition, although the novel is set in Boston, Fields inexplicably fails to give any character a New England accent. Despite these shortcomings, ALONE remains entertaining and fast paced. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]