DOUBLE INDEMNITY

Do you love the 1944 film noir classic with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck? If so, pick up this excellent reading of James M. Cain's 1936 novel. Cain's taut no-nonsense prose is skillfully mirrored by James Naughton's delivery, which offers little in the way of showy effects. Like Cain, Naughton lets the facts of the case keep us riveted. His work is a reminder that an understated performance can be every bit as dramatic as a more energetic reading. While the central aspect of the story, the insurance scam, is essentially the same as in the film, fans will enjoy comparing the many differences between this original novel and the movie. J.P.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]