THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR

At the pinnacle of his career a British diplomat's personal life is reduced to ruins by a ghost from his distant past. Shea's writing resonates with keen and subtle intelligence, which Petherbridge clearly appreciates and projects. He also appreciates the intimacy of his medium and uses it to create the ambiance of a private conversation. This creation of mood is his special strength, though there's nothing in which he appears lacking. He differentiates character voices lightly but surely, with a good command of accents, and he can sound feminine without straining for an unnatural pitch. When the story ends with surprising abruptness, the listener is left wishing for more. J.N. Winner of AUDIOFILE's Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 97]