INTERN'S HANDBOOK

In most cases, a flat, monotone narration would detract from the listener's enjoyment of an audiobook, but for this humorous crime caper, it's calculatingly perfect. Pete Simonelli's seemingly emotionless approach not only drives home the concept of a "handbook"--dry, boring required reading--but it intensifies the humor of Shane Kuhn's satirical wit. Best of all, Simonelli beautifully captures the essence of the book's narrator, John Lago. A career assassin, Lago believes himself to be beyond emotion; everything is part of the act. So Simonelli strips the color and dimension to embody a heartless shell. Then he lets the hues seep in as he gives definition to Lago's self-discovery. The result is entertaining listening. J.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2014]