ROSE MADDER

After Rose Daniels flees her abusive husband her first job is narrating audiobooks, a coincidence that will intrigue listeners, but might have less impact in print. Rose’s voice is wonderful as her employer points out--soft, silky and dynamic. Blair Brown projects this, as well as Rose’s hesitancy, fear, growing self-confidence, then fear again as she’s tracked down by Norman, her brutal cop husband. Stephen King reads the chapters in which Norman narrates and, unfortunately his nasal voice is just not believable as the foul-mouthed sadist. King intrudes with his narrative and snaps the listener out of the immersion Brown fosters. The long program is nicely cued, and good electronic sound adds to the tension. With so many cassettes, better packaging is a must, even for an individual listener. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT 95]