THE PASSENGER

The title refers to the president's half-brother, one of three victims of a military Learjet crash. John Quinn, an ex-pilot and Pentagon colonel, is assigned to find out what happened. As the investigation gathers speed, evidence disappears, and an amateur photography student who recorded the crash scene is found floating in the Potomac. Forget character development here; it's enough to keep them all straight. A good abridgment helps, and Bond's reading, though a bit rushed at the beginning, settles down. Quinn, the narrator, comes off as a nice guy surrounded by folks with varying evil agendas, and some true friends who help him towards a surprising but satifying conclusion. J.B.G. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 00]