POINT OF ORIGIN

In Cornwell's latest installment of Kay Scarpetta's exploits to catch an insidious killer, Joan Allen captures the Virginian voices; the more youthful tones of Scarpetta's niece, Lucy; and the law enforcement characters, but she adds little emotional color. For the most highly charged scenes, Allen stays cool. Her apparent distance from the characters makes some conversations hard to follow. The producers use dramatic music to make up for gaps left by the abridgment but end up calling attention to them. Nonetheless, Cornwell can deliver compelling listening. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 99]