PLEADING GUILTY

Ron McLarty is the good narrator his reviews declare him to be. He has a voice that catches one's interest immediately. His characters differ from one another by a sound slightly changed. His enthusiasm for the job at hand can push the listener to the enjoyment of the story. But none of his talents can rescue this novel from being a tale of a thousand characters who have nothing to do with the plot. Mike Malloy must find the missing Bert Kamin, a lawyer in his law firm. He reports his findings to a dictating machine into which he recollects his earlier experiences, with all the names of clients, friends, family, and family friends. The skeleton plot would make a good story, and the novel would benefit greatly from bowdlerization. J.P. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]