LONE CALDER STAR

While the rest of the rural Texas community cringes cravenly in fear, a handsome, virile stranger, aided by a codger and his spirited daughter, challenges the absolute power of the unscrupulous rich rancher and his brawny, randy son. An entry in the bestselling author's Calder family saga, this Western skimps on character depth and freshness, and lards on clichés of style and (we use the term loosely) substance. Anna Fields contributes excellent diction and accurate phrasing but seems eager to get the assignment over with. Sounding a bit more nasal than usual, she doesn't quite "phone it in" but frequently sounds unengaged with the text. Y.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]