FIRE AND ICE

Hillary Huber and Erik Davies skillfully portray homicide investigators Joanna Brady and J.P. Beaumont as they chase down murder suspects, Brady in Arizona and Beaumont in Seattle. Huber's careful pacing and understatement capably match Brady's charm and down-to-earth investigative style. Likewise, Davies’s vocal personality captures the edgy panache of the handsome Beaumont as he pursues a gruesome serial killer. The narrators excel at portraying the subtle attraction between Brady and Beaumont, which adds romantic tension when their cases cross state lines and jurisdictions. The production includes excellent characterizations of secondary characters, including those of a crime boss and an undocumented Mexican, and chillingly depicted autopsies. First-rate narrations and authentic sound effects make this a great pick for aficionados of mysteries and forensic science. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]