JUMPING THE CRACKS

Trudy Harris brings an engaging personality to the character of Sam Falconer in the fourth of Victoria Blake's Falconer series. Returning to her hometown of Oxford to open a private investigation business, Sam finds herself caretaker to a neighbor's persnickety Chihuahua, on a quest to locate a missing shrunken head for the Pitt Rivers Museum, and knee-deep in murder. Harris makes Sam a quirky, appealing heroine with secrets and personal problems that threaten to derail her investigation. Harris’s pleasing, intelligent reading style brings out Sam’s self-deprecating wit and adds dimension to secondary characters. Overall, Harris's performance turns Blake's blend of high-action plot twists and psychological angst into an entertaining listening experience. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2009]