I AM THE MESSENGER

When hapless cabdriver Ed Kennedy offhandedly stops a bank robbery, someone takes notice. The Ace of Diamonds appears in his mailbox with three addresses written on it. Ed is supposed to deliver a message to these addresses, but no one is telling him what that message is. All he is told is that his life depends on it. Narrator Marc Aden Gray not only nails the fatalistic and hilarious voice of Ed, but also gives voice to the innumerable characters Ed encounters. With his unique voices, particularly those of a barefoot runner, an elderly widow, and Ed’s own coffee-drinking dog, Gray seems to delight in each twist of author Markus Zusak’s dialogue. The message, then, is quite clear--this is an audio experience not to be missed. K.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]