THE PROFESSIONALS

Despite their newly earned college degrees, four friends struggle to find paychecks in a miserable job market. Soon their running joke about turning to crime becomes a reality, and they discover their skills as small-time kidnappers. Narrator Edoardo Ballerini guides listeners through the team’s modest guilt and conservative payoffs so well that listeners may find themselves rooting for the crooks just a bit. Ballerini elevates the tension when the team mistakenly kidnaps a man connected to organized crime. As the team is pursued by the FBI and the Mob, Ballerini depicts both their loyalty and the friction among them. His straightforward delivery showcases the striking plot turns but occasionally renders the dialogue among the team members slightly confusing. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]