BLIND RUN

Ethan Decker comes out of hiding when his old CIA colleague is assassinated and his beloved ex-wife's life is threatened. A pair of children from a mysterious island in Puget Sound hold the key to the killing. Dick Hill's portrayals of Decker; his enemy, Ramirez; and the children ring true in tone, pace, and dialect. But when it comes to the agent's ex, who happens to be a research physician, Hill gives her a nasal, simpering whininess not at all called for by the text. He does the same with one of the male doctors, breaking the flow of the story at some of its most exciting moments. Hill's narrative passages race along with the plot, however, and the overall impression is satisfying. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]