SCRATCHGRAVEL ROAD

Nicole Poole's narration reflects the no-nonsense style of Chief of Police Josie Gray. On a day when it's 104 degrees, Gray sees a car belonging to a former employee of the department parked along the road and figures that Cassidy is not out for a casual walk in the desert. Upon investigation, she finds Cassidy passed out from heat stroke next to a badly decomposed body. Poole skillfully portrays the calm and patient Gray as she and her colleagues unravel the murder. She also depicts the community's growing suspicion of the former uranium-processing plant, where the dead man worked. With a deft use of pace and tone, Poole moves the plot to a successful conclusion. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2013]