THE FIRE

Twenty years after THE EIGHT, Katherine Neville leads listeners on a merry chase in her sequel as heroine Alexandra Solarin searches for a chess set that holds the secret to immortality. Narrator Susan Denaker navigates the maze of mysterious puzzles, which draw on philosophical and mathematical theories, with clear diction, an affinity for accents, well-placed pauses, and emphasis that lets listeners know exactly where they are at all times. As the story begins, Alexandra must break codes to enter the home of her estranged mother, and Denaker soon convinces listeners of Alexandra’s initial confusion and quick mind. Also coming through in Denaker’s characterization is the heroine’s longing for her dead father and her missing mother. Denaker’s nuanced depiction of Neville’s main character wins our compassion as she untangles one mystery after another. S.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]