BLACK SECONDS

Nine-year-old Ida Joner heads off to buy sweets on her shiny yellow bike. She never returns home. Thus begins the latest Inspector Sejer mystery by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum. British actor David Rintoul differentiates each character using distinct emotional tones. Rintoul uses his natural speaking voice throughout yet expertly imbues each character with an emotional timbre all his or her own. This style makes the narrative flow effortlessly and fits a mystery whose fabric lies more in the interpersonal struggles of the characters than in plot twists and the discovery of clues. Although some listeners may find the mystery a bit slow, Rintoul’s stellar narration keeps the emotional tension running high from start to finish. J.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]