BLEEDING HEARTS

Steven Pacey has great fun with this early Rankin work. Written in 1994 under the pseudonym Jack Harvey, this is a thriller with a little bit of everything, including an alcoholic ex-cop, a heart-of-gold assassin, lovable gun dealers, and a love story. There’s also lots of bloodshed as the story moves from London to Yorkshire to Scotland to New York to Texas to Seattle to London. Amid all this, Pacey plays every role confidently and at full throttle—a one-man complete international cast. Between conversations, the pacing is quick and clear, and the voice, very pleasant. As in any thriller, however well written, some of the action isn’t believable, but in this rendition, the voices always are. A remarkable performance. R.E.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]