WHITEOUT

Ken Follett focuses on bioterrorism and demonstrates why he remains a master of suspense. The novel, about two unrelated plots to steal a deadly virus from a Scottish research laboratory, has many twists--and the story builds momentum on every page. Where WHITEOUT differs from many similar thrillers is with Follett's well-drawn characters, in particular Toni Gallo, a disgraced former police officer who is the lab's security director, and Stanley Oxenford, the company's director. The story starts out slowly but quickly gains momentum. Similarly, Josephine Bailey's reading begins somewhat lethargically, with many characters sounding identical. As events progress, Bailey, who has a pleasant British accent, adjusts to the novel's flow, and her performance improves dramatically, with the characters becoming more clearly defined. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]