THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PRISONER'S DILEMMA

Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance come to life once more in the third installment of the Mysterious Benedict Society series. Del Roy does a fair job of involving the listener through inflection and the occasional chuckle at the antics of the broad cast of characters, though his ability to voice individuals falls flat. This fast-paced story describes the children's adventures as they attempt to thwart the evil Ledroptha Curtain. Stewart's quirky, intelligent dialogue allows for the characters' personalities to be determined easily from the start, though Roy's interpretation occasionally missteps and distracts from the narrative. His pacing also leaves something to be desired, as drawn-out phrases and lengthy pauses leave the listener impatient. K.M.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2010]