THE WOLF GIFT

Writing matriarch Anne Rice is a pleasure to read, but her newest novel is even better with Ron McLarty breathing life into it. Rice exchanges her cultured French Quarter vampires for a high-tech group of werewolf superheroes. McLarty’s gravelly voice is perfect for the fast-paced adventure as protagonist Rueben Golding carries out a timeless quest amid California’s majestic Redwood Forest. The visceral bite in McLarty’s tone gives listeners the experience of animalistic hunger and the taste of raw flesh each time he growls the words of the “man-wolf.” McLarty also highlights Rice’s signature gothic elements as he smoothly delivers various accents and deftly demonstrates that vocal talent can improve even an already riveting book. P.S.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]