THE PLACE AT WHITTON

Murder, mystery, and mayhem at the monastery sum up Thomas Keneally's novel, set in Australia. The person first killed at the school for priests--Whitton Place--is a lay swineherd, found bludgeoned in a pigpen. But then Father Stenner, Whitton's president, is murdered, and things take confusing turns among a motley crew of characters: false confessors to the murders, a vision-seeing priest-to-be, a beautiful witch, townspeople angry at the church, and a constabulary with too much to do. Narrator Geoff Hiscock varies from good to excellent, occasionally failing to distinguish adequately among the characters' voices, but then becoming highly and effectively dramatic, with clear involvement in the story he is telling. His down-under accent is charming. T.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]