SHADOW MEN

Even though you know where this story is going right from the get-go, you can't stop listening. The charm of this mystery is in the way it's written--and read. Former Philadelphia cop Max Freeman, who retired himself after shooting a child, lives in an isolated shack in the Florida Everglades. He's called upon to investigate an eighty- year-old triple murder by the grandson of one of the victims. As Freeman uncovers clue after clue, he begins to believe that the 1924 deaths might be linked to a string of present-day serial killings. David Colacci seems to realize that the writer's strengths lie in character and atmosphere. It's here, also, that Colacci excels. Whether he's portraying Freeman, a wizened 80-year-old Everglades guide, or Freeman's stuttering lawyer friend, he's at the top of his game. And when he's taking you through the untold marvels of the 'Glades, you're right there in the skiff. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 04]