THE LAST PRECINCT

It's not often that Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself at a disadvantage and the target of a murder investigation. Roberta Maxwell presents Scarpetta with more of a Southern than a Virginia accent. She reads the dialogue in a clipped, abrupt manner, in striking contrast to the smoothness of the narration, which is in Scarpetta's voice. Given the intensity of the plot, interspersed music would have more effectively signalled the end of each side than the sudden drop into silence. A few loose ends may be the fault of the abridgment, but the story is powerful and holds together, and Maxwell maintains the suspense. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]