SAFER

Thank goodness for Patrick Lawlor's fluent reading of this latest from Sean Doolittle. It supports an otherwise mediocre story. One is asked to think that the protagonist, because of a minor dispute with a neighbor who is a retired cop, is framed for taking inappropriate photos of another neighbor's 13-year-old daughter. From the first listening moment, it's hard to believe that Paul, supposedly a history professor, gets arrested and then makes every stupid mistake possible. Adding insult to injury is the over-the-top story climax. Nevertheless, one continues to listen because Lawlor makes all the difference. His often-high-pitched, quick voice; brisk delivery; and strong characters stop one again and again from pressing the OFF button. A.L.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]