ROUNDING THE MARK

Having narrated several of the Inspector Montalbano mysteries, Grover Gardner is thoroughly comfortable in the persona of the feisty middle-aged Sicilian detective. Here Montalbano considers retiring, goes for a relaxing swim, and comes face-to-face with a corpse. He's also dealing with possible child trafficking in his jurisdiction. Though his Italian is impeccable, Gardner elects to define the characters through their personalities rather than give them Sicilian accents. He's particularly adept at bringing out Montalbano's humorous side as well as his frustration with the pervasive corruption he sees. Add a strong-willed mistress and an office full of independent fellow police, and you have a fast-moving and affecting audio story. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010]