SECOND HORSEMAN

Protagonist Richard Scanlan continues to tackle international terrorism and pursue patriotism--even if it means breaking the law. In this entertaining thriller Scanlan calls upon a brilliant thief whose motives are not exactly up to Scanlan's level of integrity but whose skills are required to purchase 12 nuclear bombs from the Ukrainian mob. Wily but charming, career thief Brandon Vale is plausible, thanks to Stephen Hoye's gifted narration. Hoye depicts a smart criminal who falls somewhere between slimy and trustworthy, and provides an energetic pace that keeps up with the twisting plot. His choice of relatively straight voices works well, except in a complex argument between two men--it's hard to tell who's shouting at whom. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]