SUPERJACK

A famous but fading British football player named Jack Draper ('Superjack" to his faithful fans) is charged with the brutal murder of a young girl. It seems as if Superjack has not been following the orders of some lowlifes to throw a few games. The premise is good, but the story wanders from plot to subplot and winds up being both confusing and a bit boring. This is Adam Baron's third novel featuring private eye Billy Rucker, and only readers with a tremendous amount of patience will wade through its dialogue thick as clotted cream. Reader Gordon Griffin recites the story in a pleasant British accent and skillfully manages to give the characters their own personal identities, but these may not be enough for listeners looking for action both on and off the football field. J.L.C. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]