THE RETURN

Swedish mystery writer Håkan Nesser demonstrates that he’s every bit as adept an author as his more famous American counterparts. Of course, having Simon Vance at the microphone never hurts. Vance thrives with well-written dialogue, and the give-and-take among Nesser’s characters is ideally designed for him. In particular, Vance molds the exciting plot involving Detective Chief Inspector Van Veeteren, the sleuth at the center of the action. With a deftness of phrase, Vance makes the book a joy and keeps the listener focused. Couple Vance’s performance with a thoroughly satisfying resolution, and it’s clear why THE RETURN, one of a series, will please even the toughest critics. D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2011]