TWENTY BLUE DEVILS

Aaron Elkins spins a fine tale of murder, deceit, and forensic pathology as his protagonist, Gideon Oliver, is called upon to determine whether a death was accidental or planned. Although Tahiti seems an unlikely place for a crime, this tropical paradise has its dark side. John Michalski's delivery works well; he gives a vocal identity to each character and handles the French, native, and American accents with ease. During Oliver's investigation, however, many technical terms slow the pace of the novel. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable book with a satisfactory solution to the mystery. D.M.W. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]