THE BLUE HOUR

Tim Hess, recovering from cancer surgery, is assigned to work with Merci Rayborn, an angry, ambitious and unpopular fellow deputy in the Orange County Sheriff's Department, on a series of probable murders of young women. They're surprised by the developments in the case--and by the friendship that develops between them. Parker's collection of characters is real and true, and he constructs a clever and surprising plot that confirms his mastery of the genre. Richard McGonagle proves himself up to the task of bringing this intricate story to audio. At first, his narration seems understated, but he continuously reveals the complexities of both the cops and the psychotic killer. He captures the characters subtly but with surety. Foreign and regional accents are flawless. This superb production of a top-notch thriller is completely engrossing. M.A.M. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]