GONE

Kirsten Kairos's voice doesn't drop low enough to portray adult men well, but you won't notice in Gardner's latest murder mystery, which features a troubled boy and an equally troubled female cop. And even when portraying a man, Kairos polishes Gardner's text so well, you'd be foolish to read the book to yourself. When Gardner's story has the boy pop a big, hairy beetle into his mouth, Kairos makes listeners squirm even more. Futhermore, Kairos is believable when the plot isn't. While Gardner's seventh book paints some believable drama, for example, a portrayal of hypothermia in rising water, it disappoints with other illogical or banal moments. D.J.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 06]