BROKEN HARBOR

Detective "Scorcher" Kennedy keeps his cases at the Dublin Murder Squad under tight control, producing the squad's highest "solve" rate. Stephen Hogan similarly takes control of this narration—hard and fast, leaving nothing to chance. Like Kennedy with his perps, it sometimes feels like a stranglehold. The murder of a lovely family in an isolated housing development brings Scorcher many questions and few answers, and each chapter ratchets up the suspense of possibilities. Hogan clearly plays Scorcher's rookie partner as an interesting foil to the veteran's hard line but without easing a rather incessant energy. The writing ebbs and flows, but Hogan makes small misses of subtlety, keeping this performance from perfect form. However, the crime, the suspense, and the "solve" will keep listeners riveted. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]