DEAD ON ITS TRACKS

A seamless abridgment and a multivoiced presentation are the best features of this entry in the Strange Matters series. Best friends Elizabeth and Jacob explore a historic train and find themselves involved in a ghostly murder mystery. The story maintains dramatic tension as they seek the identity of a train saboteur before running out of time. The actor who plays Elizabeth, the primary narrator, gives a credible performance, imbuing her voice with the full range of horror this story demands. The voice for Jacob is sometimes too quiet and distant, but the other voices, mostly fleshless train ghosts, fill out the story with realistic variation. This is a quick listen for kids who love shivers up their spines. C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]