THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

This tense thriller seems all too plausible. A mastermind of terrorism escapes into the desert of Afghanistan. His pursuers race against time to prevent him from reaching his al Quaeda cell and perpetrating a major disaster. British narrator Crispin Redman sounds like one of the voices one hears in travelogues describing beautiful or awe-inspiring vistas. Here, the vistas being redolent with danger, Redman pours on the dramatic juice to great effect. His characterizations, particularly of the villains and the comic relief, are a bit broad. Otherwise, he never lets the listener forget there's not a moment to lose. Y.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]