THE HOSPITAL Mountain Man, Book 1.5

Augustus Berry has survived an unexplained apocalypse. Narrator R.C. Bray portrays him in a mildly abrasive voice that suits his rough, hard character. Enduring a world of flesh-eating mutants, Gus dresses in leather and arms himself with a shotgun and an aluminum bat. While he bases his actions on those of movie characters, he doesn't have the hero's usual optimism: He drowns out his depression and oppressive solitude with liquor--yet fights to stay alive. Bray's narration has a bitter edge that reflects Gus's personality well. Even with a somewhat overdone premise, Blackmore and Bray leave listeners eager for the next story. A.K.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2014]