DOORS OPEN

Narrator James MacPherson shows talent and verve in this engaging art heist caper. Now that he’s retired his bestselling John Rebus series, novelist Ian Rankin launches Mike Mackenzie, a bored software millionaire who falls in with a group of thieves who believe that art should not belong to a privileged few. MacPherson portrays the diverse cast with a Scots brogue, grit, humor, and an edge as sharp as a scalpel. The thieves soon prepare to swap originals for fakes on "Doors Open Day," when nonpublic institutions offer tours. Mackenzie likes the excitement, but the mood turns dark when violent criminals are thrown into the mix. Rankin’s Rebus fans may be disappointed by the low-key action, but DOORS OPEN is fine entertainment. R.O. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2010]