DEATH'S JEST-BOOK

What began in DIALOGUES OF THE DEAD continues in this newest Dalziel and Pascoe adventure. Ex-con Franny Roote used his prison time to get a degree and is on his way to becoming an academic wunderkind. Roote writes complimentary letters to Pascoe, but the young policeman recognizes Roote's passion for vengeance in the sub-text. Shaun Dooley's superbly intelligent performance of Hill's literate investigation into the mind of a deranged killer is chilling. He doesn't miss a single nuance in rendering Roote's weird missives, particularly his discourses on avoiding rape in prison and the theme of revenge in Jacobean tragedy. Mantle's Yorkshire accents are spot-on. He embellishes Hill's psychological insights with vivid, unforgettable characterizations. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]