LEFT FOR DEAD

But for the superior narration of Karen Ziemba, this listener would have left this book before the end. Ziemba's brisk and superlative reading bolsters this otherwise tired murder plot. Jance, the author of the popular J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady novels, has contrived a series of unconnected events—the rape of a runaway girl and the near-killing of a classmate from the police academy—for former newscaster Ali Reynolds to solve. The plot is not altogether believable. Jance also adds some minor characters and events that only detract from the storyline. On the other hand, Ziemba single-handedly holds this book together, so the distractions become minor. Kudos to her for her accomplished accents and compelling narrative drive. A.L.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]