DEAD POINT

Peter Temple's latest thriller grows on the listener. Although it begins slowly, the third Jack Irish novel features a broad range of characters, many of whom appear for a few moments, disappear, and then suddenly reappear. At its core, the story focuses on P.I. Irish's efforts to locate the killer of Robbie Colburne. With its array of characters and subplots, the book is an excellent vehicle for narrator Michael Carman, whose effective use of tone permits listeners to keep track of all the characters without losing sight of the story. Carman’s light and warm voice is a good fit, and he paces the material well. It’s as if he can imagine listeners poised over their scorecards. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]