BLOOD HOLLOW

A girl's disappearance stirs up a Minnesota community, and the town's prejudices surface when a Native American teen is fingered for her murder. This mystery unfolds slowly but proves engaging once the actual crime is being investigated. The novel's lackluster beginning is exacerbated by the slow narration of David Chandler. Chandler's savoring of each word is not appropriate for a book with its focus on plot, not artistry. While he voices a believable cop, he provides little vocal variation between characters. His restrained performance may be preferred as some portraits, such as that of the medicine man, seriously miss their mark. J.T. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]