THREE LITTLE SHIPS

A good audiobook experience requires a good story, a polished reader, and behind the scenes, a ruthless editor. THE THREE LITTLE SHIPS is about the heroic evacuation of Dunkirk, so the story is intrinsically exciting. Gordon Griffin has a strong, manly voice and a flair for accents and vocal nuances. But the book itself badly needs editing. There is too much repetition and two much verbal hand-wringing. Nonetheless, Griffin copes well with depicting the families of the three ships that go on the rescue mission, and he generates suspense and excitement when the soldiers are under fire. The characters are likable, and the description of the struggles is compelling. Despite the slow spots, this well-told story is worth hearing. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]