PAYBACK

Sandhogs are urban miners, laborers who dig tunnels beneath New York City. This novel, not for the faint of heart, has language and action as raw as the working conditions the Sandhogs face every shift. Reader Ron McLarty seems to electrify Kelly's words with a delivery as streetwise and gritty as a construction worker's tongue. His expressive style and careful pronunciation add dimension to the various ethnic dialects and the four-letter language of these tough people. Through all of the crusty exteriors, Kelly and McLarty bring us face to face with the inner workings of a broad assortment of people, some good and some very bad, living the life they've chosen. Uncomfortable and many times unpleasant. But, well worth the time. T.J.M. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]