HAVANA BAY

This foray into the murky world of Havana, Cuba, follows Russian investigator Arkady Renko on a convoluted search for the circumstances of the death of a former KGB agent. Narrator Frank Muller's skill with atmosphere is masterfully employed. Martin Cruz Smith and Muller make a rich, heady combination. Portraying a Cuba where the "line between real and ridiculous" is very finely drawn, Muller allows listeners to be woven into a web of intrigue and black magic. Like Renko, the listener is also acutely observant of details and nuances. Not for the inattentive, HAVANA BAY can be savored at levels of sheer descriptive beauty or tangled complexity. A rare treat. R.F.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]