COLD PARADISE

Lawyer-detective Stone Barrington has to endure the excruciating existence of life aboard a luxury yacht in Palm Beach to solve his latest case, in which an old client turns up with a new identity. The key to the puzzle involves her marriage to Barrington's new client, a wealthy software developer. Dick Hill obviously enjoys the fast pace of the detective novel and delivers an enthusiastic performance. His male characters--Barrington; his Brooklyn police partner; and his ex-wife's Italian family all carry convincing vocalizations. However, he falls far short of the mark with his female characters. Nearly indistinguishable from one another, all sound simpering, stupid, and soulless. Hill's women nearly spoil an otherwise enjoyable production. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 01]