THE HUSBAND

Mitch Rafferty considers himself an everyday guy, lucky to have a small landscaping business and a modest home he shares with his beloved wife in L.A. When his wife is kidnapped and the ransom is set at $2 million, he is determined to play the kidnappers' game despite his inability to even envision that huge sum. Narrator Holter Graham enhances the story with his skillful pacing; Mitch springs to life with unexpected determination, tenderness, and unbearable tension. Thanks to Graham's delivery and Koontz's plot, the listener feels astonished along with Mitch as the twisted events unfold. Unfortunately, however, even Graham's capable delivery cannot redeem the disappointing conclusion. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]