A DEATH IN SUMMER

The titular death begins this mystery: Ireland is caught in a heat wave when millionaire Richard Jewell meets his end with a gunshot wound to the head. Suicide? Murder? These questions pull the listener into a well-performed story. Narrator John Keating keeps a firm hold on a variety of characters and accents—from the not-so-grieving widow’s French purr to the too-involved Detective Quirke’s hard-edged brogue. Supporting characters are distinctly developed, and Keating’s masterful style keeps the action moving forward. Sometimes the coincidences of plot are difficult to believe, and the end may lack true surprises, but the power of the characters propels the story. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2011]