THE LIZARD KING True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers

The Mafia deals in a myriad of goods: drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and just about every other vice that can be imagined. But what if they dealt in reptiles? Author Bryan Christy introduces listeners to a new type of family business in this true story of Michael J. Van Nostrand, owner of a company named Strictly Reptiles and all-round villain. With a large cast of street-tough characters, including detectives, thugs, and even a special agent from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, narrator Tony Ward offers an outstanding reading that combines a journalistic text with a dramatic performance. The result is an enjoyable and informative look at the covert activity of animal smuggling. L.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2009]