ABUSE OF POWER

Jack Hatfield, a TV host and reporter shunned for stating his opinion of Muslims, covers a bombing in San Francisco. He smells a cover-up and goes on a global hunt for the truth. Narrator Peter Larkin expertly morphs into countless voices: Jack’s friends range from a crusty pal to a savvy, quick-witted woman and a young computer programmer. Villains and supporting characters are as diverse as you will find in fiction: various men from the Middle East, a Southern senator, a British agent, powerful captors, and terrified victims. Those who don’t mind their espionage filled with a strong dose of the author’s conservative politics will enjoy the story’s pace and twists. Character development is well done, and Larkin’s narration is superb as he digs into a bottomless trove of accents. M.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]