LAST REFUGE

When an 80-year-old neighbor is found dead in her bathtub, Sam Acquillo, 52-year-old dropout, is the only one who thinks her death wasn't accidental. The ex-boxer, ex-corporate systems engineer, vodka-drinking porch-potato manages to get his life together while digging into the truth behind the death. Stefan Rudnicki keeps Sam low-key and complex. Rudnicki creates an unforgettable, very human Sam, numbed, sardonic, and self-deprecating. His deep, sexy voice draws listeners into life in the posh Hamptons, including the locals' disdain for summer people, its well-coifed women, and its none-too-helpful cops. He is especially effective in flashbacks highlighting the events that led to Sam's middle-aged meltdown. Knopf keeps the mystery fresh and engaging, and Rudnicki's reading makes it all plausible. SJ.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]