CIMARRON ROSE

James Lee Burke introduces Bill Bob Holland, ex-Texas Ranger turned small-town lawyer in West Texas. Much like Dave Robicheaux of Burke's Louisiana series, Holland marches to the tunes of his personal ghosts. Narrator Will Patton is well versed in portraying Burke's characters--each demanding some shade of evil or perversity. Patton is truly brilliant at making each of the cops, jail guards and criminals sound scary. Using pacing and a variety of slow Texas drawls, Patton barely mitigates the pace of unrelenting violence. He plays the scenes with the disturbing clarity that Burke's sharp-edged style demands. It's not pretty, but Patton does a chilling job. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPT 97]