THE GENIUS

In Kellerman's best storytelling yet, Ethan Muller, a smug, narcissistic gallery owner, comes into possession of an astonishing collection of sketches otherwise headed for the dumpster. The artist, reclusive shut-in Victor Cracke, has disappeared. When a retired police detective sees the drawings and recognizes the face of a boy killed years ago in one of them--you're hooked. Narrator Kirby Heyborne's voice offers rewarding surprises. As Ethan, Heyborne sounds ironic, and appropriately trendy. As the old-warhorse ex-cop, his gravelly rasp foreshadows the man's deadly cancer. As a convoluted tangle of back stories unfolds, Heyborne's performance makes you believe it all. Kellerman brings a satisfying symmetry to Ethan's search for the mysterious Victor, and Heyborne's narration will keep listeners chained to their earphones. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]