SHADY PLACE

Narrator Nik Magill expertly captures this heartbreaking yet truly funny mystery. Retired Philadelphia cop Jim Phillips, a widower, reluctantly moves into a 55+ community in Shady Place, Florida. Still grieving for his beloved wife, Phillips, especially as portrayed by Magill, is endearing and believable. A bit of a loner, he tries to ignore the never-ending flow of visitors. Each sounds authentic--from Indian Sanjay to African-American Tommy to luscious Brit Beverly. Things begin to look up when Phillips recognizes Mike Johnson, even with his toupee and Twizzler, a substitute for a cigar, as a member of the Witness Protection Program. Magill entertainingly presents the seedy Johnson and a host of engaging supporting characters. Listeners will relish hearing Phillips's long-suffering yet loving daughters, a late-blooming gay romance, and seniors simply having fun. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2017]