THE BLACK CAT

It’s hard to believe this is book 22 of Grimes’s Detective Richard Jury series. Devotees will be happy to accompany him on another jaunt. True audiophiles will be familiar with narrator John Lee. To say he has a prodigious body of work is an understatement. Here again his voice is compelling, drawing the listener in with expert skill. This is an old-fashioned mystery, heavy on the personalities and light on the forensics. Lee is perfect as he presents the lead detective and his quirky sidekick, Melrose Plant, who is straight out of BBC central casting, as well as some remarkably keen cats. Lee’s lovingly rendered performance is sure to put a smile on listeners’ faces. D.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]