ENEMY IN SIGHT

Michael Jayston gives a superb performance in this sprawling sea drama. Jayston's subtle changes in tone and pitch allow the listener to easily track which character is speaking, even during the involved battle scenes. His portrayal of Captain Richard Bolitho is captivating, and he delivers a perfect pompous whine for the insufferable Commodore Pelham-Martin. Scenes between Bolitho's brother and nephew are moving without being overly sentimental. This is a perfect epic for making your commute quick and satisfying, although you may drive more slowly to find out how a particular battle ends before getting out of the ship, er, car. A fine introduction to Kent's series of novels about the maritime exploits of Bolitho (number 10 in a series of 25), the title also stands alone as an enjoyable adventure. R.F. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 04]