THE VANISHED

Shirley Barthelmie's pleasant, even tones provide a strong narration for this chilling story of urban legends that become reality. She provides distinct voices for each of the three students, Cassie, Fraser, and Jake, who investigate the cases of children who disappear. Barthelmie maintains the rising tension of the story, despite the challenges of long descriptive passages and loose ends in the plot. An occasional slip into overly dramatic reading can be forgiven, given the creepy subterranean caverns the teens must traverse in order to rescue Jake's sister from ravenous troglodyte inhabitants. The menacing music that begins each CD sets the mood of the recording well. C.A. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]