THE SKY TOOK HIM

Unlikely sleuth Alafair Tucker packs up two of her ten children and leaves her husband to manage the farm alone while she visits a dying brother-in-law. But Lester isn't the only one soon to meet his Maker, and it's up to Alafair to set everything right for her sister and niece. Pam Ward shines in her depiction of the ailing Lester and of Alafair's youngest daughter, Grace, a 2-year-old with uncanny verbal and perceptual skills. Solid Oklahoma accents are reflected in many of the characters' voices, along with an Asian portrayal. Ward's voicing of Irish antagonist Buck Collins is inconsistent, with the accent kicking in a bit late in each speech. Still, she captivates the listener from the book's benign opening to its surprising conclusion. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2009]