VOLK'S GAME

Volk fits the paradigm of the antihero--he's disgruntled, bitter, clever, cold-hearted, and brutal. When he and his lover set out to steal a long-lost work of art, anyone who gets in their way is dispensed with coldly and efficiently. Stephen Hoye's narration of this thriller is understated yet intense. He sustains the dark tone of the novel and its protagonist except during the few interludes in which Volk allows himself to be relatively vulnerable. Hoye handles the pervasive violence deliberately, deftly, and without exaggeration. His restraint underlines the extent to which violence permeates Volk's world. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]