THE LOCK-UP

AUDIOFILE Golden Voice John Lee brings Booker Prize winner John Banville's circuitous mystery clarity, assurance, and intelligence. After a young woman's body is found in a lock-up garage after what appears to be a suicide, Dublin pathologist Dr. Quirke discovers signs of foul play. Quirke and DI Stratford, attempting to put aside their personal animosities and resentments, begin a murder investigation. In Banville's fourth crime story featuring the duo, Lee creates a turbulent mood that reflects postwar Dublin in the 1950s. He provides credible characters with spot-on Irish lilts and authentic personalities. Moving from Italy to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, from Ireland's deep-rooted anti-Semitism to its opposition to women's rights, the audiobook is best when revealing personal backstories. Lee's outstanding performance doesn't miss a nuance. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]