THE VENETIAN BETRAYAL

Steve Berry is a master of suspense whose books are consistently entertaining. With THE VENETIAN BETRAYAL, Berry weaves an intriguing tale about the search for Alexander the Great’s final resting place and the mysterious healing serum buried with him. The story is farfetched and the characters a bit formulaic; in addition, it helps to have a scorecard to keep track of the villains and heroes. Despite these shortcomings, the novel still succeeds on audio because of reader Scott Brick, who yet again transforms a mediocre book into a great listen. Brick’s wry reading style is an excellent complement for the convoluted story, and his ability to bring life to central characters Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt proves just how valuable the choice of performer remains. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]