THE HOUNDS AND THE FURY

Rita Mae Brown continues to explore Southern culture, particularly fox-hunting, in this diverting, atmospheric mystery while delivering a commendable performance as narrator. At times, she instructs readers on the technicalities of raising horses and hounds overmuch. However, listeners are mostly entertained as heroine "Sister" Jane Arnold, master of the foxhounds, sorts out an insurance scam, investigates murder and attempted murder, and locates a sum of money missing from a neighboring factory. Brown's voice is not strong and lacks some versatility, but she makes up for it in enthusiasm and emotion as she artfully portrays the human and animal worlds. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]