MOUTHPIECE

The verbs are as muscular as the hoodlums in these four stories of pulp fiction. Lips twitch, threats jangle, guts spurt, and victims wail and squawk. One thug’s voice rasps “like a saw in mahogany.” The 1930s hard-boiled writing invites the colorful treatment of fully orchestrated sound effects, rich music, and enjoyably hammy acting. The team at Galaxy Audio misses no detail in bringing these stories to life. Their strategy of combining the flavor of old-time radio drama with that of golden-age detective fiction doubles the fun. The title story is followed by three more: “Flame City” (a four-chapter novella), “Calling Squad Cars!” and “The Grease Spot.” Thrills abound! G.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]