EDGE OF BATTLE

The combination of illegal immigration and advanced military weapons research promises an edge-of-the-seat thriller. The story begins as illegal immigrants are killed near Operation Rampart, a test military base with a crew of Talon robots in Southern California. Michael McShane effectively manipulates pitch and tone, creates a variety of male and female characters, and delivers American and Mexican accents. But the story itself becomes lost in the author's exposition on the job losses, lack of economic opportunity, and blight on the U.S. health system caused by illegal immigration. McShane doesn't deliver the promised thriller, but neither does the author. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 07]