THE STRANGER HOUSE

Two strangers arrive at Illthwaite, England, seeking information about their respective ancestors. Both stay at Stranger House. In this dryly humorous, deliberately paced, subtle thriller, Reginald Hill serves up an ambitious story of religious persecution, two unsolved murders--one from the fifteenth century and one from the 1960s--Norse mythology, buried treasure, and human sacrifice. Gordon Griffin's narration makes this story shine as he exerts control over the flashbacks, the foreshadowing, and the dizzying swirl of events. Griffin provides unique voices for a brash 20-something Australian mathematician; a former seminarian who suffers from manifestations of stigmata; a blacksmith with a Viking swagger; and a host of quirky, devious villagers. Even at a hefty 16 hours, this audiobook left this reviewer wanting more. K.A.T. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]