WOLF TO THE SLAUGHTER

The second of Rendell's Chief Inspector Wexford police procedurals, from the 1960s, has the Kingsmarkham force investigating the disappearance of an artist’s beautiful sister. Period details—long hair, mod clothes, loosening sexual mores—and the reactions to them date the book or provide added interest, depending on the listener. The late Robin Bailey's slightly dark timbre and cultured tone deliver the story with controlled pacing and dynamics. He varies character voices fairly well, though people of a particular class tend to sound more alike than class alone would determine. His Wexford has less of a local accent than other narrators give him, a reasonable choice for a well-educated character. Overall, a tip-top reading of a solid entry in a popular series. W.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]