DEATH BYTES

A young woman is murdered in the middle of the day in a busy market. There are dozens of witnesses, but most conveniently disappear before the police arrive. In police procedurals, the business of investigation is often plodding and meticulous. James Bryce’s reading keeps things lively without high-speed car chases or shoot-outs. Whether Detective Superintendent Colin Thane is buried in tedious license checks or boring tax records, feeling like a dinosaur in the high-tech high-stakes world of computers, or dodging a mountain of falling porcelain bathroom fixtures, Bryce’s performance is compelling. He handles the assortment of characters and Scots accents with finesse. Taking advantage of Knox’s careful attention to detail, Bryce highlights Thane’s human side and brings credibility to the painstaking nature of police work. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 02/ JAN 03]