THE VICTORIA VANISHES

The Peculiar Crimes Unit is at it again, solving a series of murders taking place in London pubs, including one called the Victoria Cross, which only exists for a night. All the victims are ladies of a certain age and when the murderer is identified halfway through the story you think NOW what? Conspiracy in high places, of course. Meanwhile, as usual, the powers that be want to shut down the unit, Bryant's memory is failing, and he's lost the ashes of their colleague with which he's been entrusted. The Royal Shakespeare Company couldn't render this cast of British eccentrics any better than Tim Goodman does by himself alone in a recording booth, and while it isn't HAMLET, it certainly is a lot of fun. B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]