SYNDROME E

Here’s something different for American listeners, a gripping horror/suspense novel from acclaimed French author Franck Thilliez. Be warned: It's gruesome. The audiobook benefits greatly from the performance of narrator Gildart Jackson, a TV and film actor with great range and skill. He moves easily from a French accent to Egyptian and Canadian accents, making each character distinct. His subtlety makes the descriptions of horrible experiments even more frightening as ruthless scientists try to determine what causes people to fly into murderous rages. The emotionally damaged detective, from “Columbo” to “Monk,” is common stock in mysteries, so the foibles of detective Franck Sharko will not shock listeners. M.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2012]