STAY CLOSE

The disappearances of several men are slowly linked by a detective whose world expands to include a cadre of people tied to the crimes. While Harlan Coben’s plot involves many characters, he makes them memorable through their backstories. Scott Brick crafts characters not so much by shaping each individual voice with different accents but by using expressions and tones that convey strong emotions. And the emotions are far ranging. Empathy, psychotic behavior, and frantic helplessness all figure into the narration as much as the plot. It’s a diverse group tied to the crimes: a crooked cop haunted by his conscience, two young psychopathic killers, old lovers who are trying to escape their past and confront their present. Brick’s narration is crucial as the solution is unearthed. M.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]