INHUMAN REMAINS

Primavera Blackstone miraculously survives a plane crash and manages to remain undiscovered on a coastal island because she suspects her ex-husband, Oz, arranged to have her killed. Narrator Hilary Neville's skilled presentation somewhat rescues this corny, coincidence-driven melodrama with her charming Spanish and Scottish accents and lovely descriptions of coastal Spain. She also delivers an excellent portrayal of Primavera’s 7-year-old son, Tom. However, most of the characters are not well drawn enough to elicit the listener’s concern for them. It's too bad, since the original Oz Blackstone mysteries were well received despite being a bit over the top. Primavera suffers a different fate, including an unsurprising surprise ending. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2011]