LEGALLY DEAD

Former U.S. Marshall and independently wealthy Mike Venturi creates new identities for people who need to disappear. Then someone finds out where the "legally dead" are and starts killing or threatening them. Helping the widowed Venturi stop the violence are his old Marine pal, Danny; Danny's wife, Luz; his mother-in-law; and a female obstetrician Mike romances. Mark Deakins reads as if he's telling the listener a story. If his tone is sometimes matter-of-fact, there's plenty of action to sustain interest. You always know which character is speaking even if, except for some accents, he doesn't differentiate them. Danny takes a shine to one of the "dead," and the romantic tension is audible. Even with all the activity, the listener might not be prepared for the explosive ending. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]