THE SECOND CHAIR

This latest Dismas Hardy/Abe Glitsky legal thriller presents a lot of change in the series. After the death of his mentor, Hardy, formerly a dedicated sole practitioner, has become a managing partner of a larger law firm. Glitsky is having problems of his own in his new elevated role as deputy chief of investigations. Even the reader, formerly David Laurence, is new. Though for the first few minutes you miss Laurence's scratchy voice, you quickly come to appreciate David Colacci's deep tones and crisp narration. While Hardy second chairs a murder trial for troubled associate Amy Wu, also a new character, Glitsky hunts for a serial killer who apparently executes his victims at random. There are both familiar and new twists here, which Colacchi handles equally well. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]