ENOUGH ROPE Vol. I

This gargantuan collection of Block short stories--nearly 50 hours' worth--will test the patience of even his most fervent fans. The stories--most concerning murder, as befits this premier mystery writer--are uneven. Too often listeners know what's coming long before Block takes them there. What is satisfying is the richness of Block's characterizations, which are often arch and always discerning. A voluminous body of work such as this one obviously taxes the range of any narrator. It's not enough to say that Alan Sklar is up to the challenge. He certainly is, especially with his seemingly endless characterizations. But Sklar brings something more to the reading, something that becomes ever more apparent as the hours elapse: He's clearly enjoying himself in this marathon production, and his pleasure is infectious. M.O. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]