NEW YORK DEAD

When a famous news anchor dives off a skyscraper right in front of an off-duty detective, a police drama is bound to follow. Stone Barrington won't rest until he finds the answers, no matter where his search leads. Robert Lawrence delivers a "Dragnet-style" interpretation of the formulaic crime story. His characterization of Stone Barrington often blurs with that of his partner, Dino Bacetti, but neither detective's straightforward personality suffers much from the slips. Lawrence gives more flavor to the secondary players, a psychotic mortician, a nymphomaniac office administrator, a gay journalist, and an egocentric TV anchor. Too bad the plot doesn't offer more of a challenge. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 01]