21 HOURS

Sean Runnette's narration swings between spot-on and sloppy in this predictable story. A young ex-con has 21 hours to find his kidnapped niece. A variety of clichés fills the novel, creating an easily anticipated conclusion. Runnette's pacing and cadence complement the plot, ushering the listener through the scenes and easily capturing the emotions of the characters--the anguish of the child's mother, the anger of the avenging uncle, and the menace of an Irish gangster. However, for such a talented narrator, Runnette's sloppy diction is surprising as is the occasionally lapse into the wrong accent. M.L.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2015]