DEATH'S LITTLE HELPERS

Nick Sullivan does wonders with Shamus Award-winning author Peter Spiegelman's second John March adventure. Although Spiegelman's heavy-handed prose constantly interrupts Sullivan's narrative flow, Sullivan manages to keep things lively. March, a P.I. with ties to investment banking, is hired to find a stock analyst who has disappeared. March's investigation brings him into the world of insider trading, secretive millionaires, and the Russian mob. Sullivan's performance offers a variety of spot-on character sketches, and his expressiveness during an intense climax almost makes up for the novel's weaker spots. Thanks to Nick Sullivan's energetic delivery, listeners will find much to like in this financial thriller. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]