BADLANDS

Christopher Lane reads the oblique thoughts of Gabriel Du Pre, Bowen's fast-driving, illiterate Western hero, as naturally as possible. Capturing both male and female characters equally well, Lane portrays Du Pre's girlfriend, the strong and stubborn bartender, Madelaine, and his wicked 10-year-old granddaughter, Pallas, with clarity and empathy. Newcomers from the Host of Yahweh, a Californian millennial cult, keep to themselves, but Du Pre's investigation, in cooperation with the FBI, discovers a killer and the identity of the cult's mysterious leader. Indian lore and a buffalo stampede are woven into this intriguing mystery. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]