THE FIRE WITNESS

The way they turn out mass murderers, it’s a wonder there’s anyone left alive in Sweden. Lucky for us Lars Kepler is one of them. (Well two of them; it’s a husband/wife collaboration.) THE FIRE WITNESS will have you from the first mashed skull to the final excruciating confrontation between innocents and evil. It’s the kind of jet-propelled read that leads to making squirrelly excuses to get back to your earbuds. (No, really, I’m happy to wash the dishes. No, don’t help, please.) Mark Bramhall gives a faultless, taut, and sympathetic performance, and that coupled with complex but controlled and fast-paced plotting and a silky-smooth translation makes this a completely absorbing production. Bramhall’s timbre is attractively roughened, and his range of character voices is truly impressive. B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2013]