HARRIET BEAN AND THE LEAGUE OF CHEATS

Having tasted and enjoyed the thrills of sleuthing, Harriet is willing to help out her aunts' friend, Mr. Fetlock, whose horses are having amazingly bad luck at the racetrack. Charlotte Parry is convincing as young Harriet, who is at times worried, excited, and relieved. Parry's varied voices convey each character's age and background--the worried Mr. Fetlock, the eccentric aunts, the suspicious jockeys, even the evil Mr. C. Heat. While at times it's hard to tell which jockey, or aunt, is which, the plot is simple enough that the inconsistencies don't matter. Parry's reading is clear, and her steady pacing makes it easy for a young listener to follow along. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]