PRIOR BAD ACTS

After a horrific crime, Judge Carey Moore rules that accused killer Karl Dahl's "prior bad acts" cannot be used against him in trial. The public is outraged, and the judge is brutally attacked. Homicide cops Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska step in to investigate and keep an eye on the judge. Then when Dahl escapes from custody, the judge is kidnapped. Holter Graham presents Kovac and Liska as a smart team whose wisecracks and on-the-job rapport work well. Graham's characters sound like real people, not caricatures, ranging from gruff and gritty to believably ordinary. Graham's performance elevates Hoag's thriller, heightening its intensity and delivering a stunning climax. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]