PAGANINI'S GHOST

Adam's novel yields rich insights into the skill of luthier Giuseppe Guarneri in creating stringed instruments and classical music history. A juicy murder mystery features contemporary master violin maker Gianni Castiglione. Sean Barrett's resonant bass voice is cleverly reminiscent of Il Cannone (The Cannon)--the priceless Italian violin central to the mystery's plot. He tempers his performance with perfect-pitch Italian and Russian accents while drawing the listener in to imagine the story's exquisite music. When a repugnant art dealer associated with the violin is found dead, Castiglione deploys his extensive musical expertise to assist the Cremona police in unraveling a suspenseful mystery that spans the centuries and the instrument's provenance. A.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2013]