DANCING IN THE DARK

Audiophiles appreciate the medium's enhancement of a text, typically finding it to enrich an author's story, meaning, and use of language. But audio also can shed glaring light on poor dialogue, mediocre character development, and cliché-filled description. Given that, Eliza Foss gives a strong reading of TV news reporter Diane Mayfield's coverage of abductions in a coastal town. Foss's characterizations emphasize emotion; strangely, however, Mayfield sounds less like a TV personality than do some of the town residents. Foss lends genuine feeling to the dialogue of the kidnap victims and long list of suspects. As several townsfolk fear that circumstantial evidence may lead to their arrests, Foss's reading sparks images of nail biting, pacing, and nervous tics. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]