THE SNOW GARDEN

Taking place during freshman year at fictional Atherton University, Rice's psychological thriller involves militant and closet gays, sexually repressed young adults, and drug and alcohol abuse. Relationships are secret and convoluted, and the plot is dark and muddled. Reader Jeff Daniels is given a wide scope for his talents, however, portraying a variety of finely nuanced characters, as well as a multitude of strident emotions: love, fear, lust, jealousy, and suspicion. His female voices are particularly good, not sounding strained or falsetto. Daniels's low-key, clear voice electrifies the angst of the youngsters and increases the mood of foreboding and menace created by Rice. S.C.A. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]