THE BOOK OF Q

This is not your average thriller. Its plot concerns a modern-day conspiracy against the Catholic Church by a group of Manichaeans, followers of early Christians who threatened the church's power and its hold over Christian doctrine. Narrator Arthur Addison reads with a deliberate, nasal-tinged voice that morphs into numerous characters and accents. The problem is that his normal reading voice is not strong enough to carry the story. He reads in a slow monotone, taking great care to enunciate every word, but in doing so he sacrifices continuity and feeling. At times it's difficult to follow the plot because he hasn't brought us along at a steadier pace. Addison seems miscast for a book that needs a more supple, nuanced voice. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]