Audio

Fiction

In this debut thriller, an intern at a run-down Manhattan hospital who's atoning for his former life as a mob hit man encounters in the course of a single day a patient with a mystery illness, a 21-year-old girl about to have a leg amputated, and a former mob associate. His attempts to avoid the mob and see his patients are interspersed with an account of his past misadventures. Actor Robert Petkoff does an excellent job of voicing the protagonist as a cynical, street-wise young man who wants to do the right thing and remain alive. Highly recommended. [Audio clip available through www.hachettebookgroup.com; the Little, Brown hc received a starred review, LJ 12/08.—Ed.]—Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

Bradbury shares all-new entertaining and enjoyable tales ranging from the creepy to the romantic to the humorous in this anthology containing 21 never-before-published short stories and a poem. The collection, whose introduction provides a glimpse into the creative process of this celebrated writer, is read by four narrators: Jesse Bernstein, Mark Bramhall, Mark Cashmen, and Kirsten Potter. Each succeeds in showcasing the diverse sentiments and observations presented here. Recommended. [Embeddable audio clip available through library.booksontape.com; the Harperluxe pb was recommended "for all public libraries and story collections," LJ 1/09.—Ed.]—Denise A. Garofalo, Mount Saint Mary Coll. Lib., Newburgh, NY

Many of the characters in New York Times best-selling novelist Deveraux's latest romance—following Carolina Isle (2006)—are CIA agents who've been placed in the neighborhood to protect a famous actress who was herself once a spy and whose life is now in danger. The convoluted and complicated plot unfolds slowly; theater actress Barbara McCulloh reads adequately but somewhat dramatically. Deveraux's many fans will want this title, but they will likely be disappointed. Public libraries should expect demand. [Abridged recording available from S. & S., with Natalie Moore reading; the Atria hc was "highly recommended," LJ 5/1/08.—Ed.]—Mary Knapp, Madison P.L., WI

Book 11 in Feehan's "Dark" series—following Dark Symphony—originally appeared in the 2003 anthology The Only One. It sticks to the formula of a male Carpathian and a human female finding true love while fighting foes and obstacles. Narrator Rebecca Cook evenly portrays the feisty female characters in this quickly paced title, but she gives the sensual male Carpathian a generic vampire sound—think Bela Lugosi saying, "I vant to drink your blood"—and makes the other male characters sound interchangeable. For public libraries and popular reading collections. [Also available from Books in Motion are Nos. 1–9 and 11–12 in this series, as well as two stand-alone Feehan works: Lair of the Lion and The Scarletti Curse.—Ed.] —J. Sara Paulk, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Cty. P.L., GA

This full-cast audio dramatization of Hammett's 1930 pulp fiction best seller features performances by actors Michael Madsen, Sandra Oh, and Edward Herrmann. Each narrator reads not only his/her character's lines but the narration associated with that character as well; the resulting abrupt switches can be distracting. The music and other secondary production effects, however, are unobtrusive. A very enjoyable version of a genre classic that is recommended for all popular fiction collections. [Audio clip available through www.blackstoneaudio.com; alternate recordings available from Sound Library: BBC Audiobooks America and Books on Tape; the Vintage pb was deemed "the best hard-boiled PI story and one of the great American novels, period," LJ 2/15/05.—Ed.]—I. Pour-El, Des Moines Area Community Coll., Boone, IA

In this sixth and final entry in Edgar Award winner Kaminsky's Lew Fonesca series—following Always Say Goodbye, also available from Sound Library—the soft-boiled Sarasota, FL, detective must clear the name of a surly teenager accused of bludgeoning a wealthy eccentric. Series reader Michael McConnohie captures Fonesca's sober masculinity, as well as the women, teens, and men who cross his path. McConnohie needs only to master the pronunciation of "Tamiami" to keep from shattering the mood for listeners familiar with the Sunshine State. Highly recommended for public library mystery collections. [Audio clip available through www.bbcaudiobooksamerica.com.—Ed.]—Judith Robinson, Dept. of Lib. & Information Studies, Univ. at Buffalo

The author of The Thorn Birds and the "Masters of Rome" series here imagines the lives of the five Bennet sisters 20 years after the conclusion of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. McCullough tears apart the romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy only to reconstruct it, and she remakes Miss Mary as a 19th-century feminist and advocate for the downtrodden. She makes an unintentional farce out of the story, destroying the charm of the original characters and placing them in ridiculous situations. This audiobook's only positive aspect is the excellent narration by actress/Seattle disc jockey Jen Taylor, who nails the British accent and gives each character a distinct voice. Only for those listeners who don't truly love the original story. [The S. & S. hc was recommended "more for McCullough's fans than Miss Jane's," LJ 1/09.—Ed.]—Johannah Genett, Hennepin Cty. Libs., Minneapolis

A plot is in play to assassinate Fidel Castro and free Cuba from his dictatorship. But who's really behind it: former CIA agent Carolina Anzar Perez or Cuban minister of health Carlos Gutierrez? Merullo's (A Little Love Story) largely competent thriller is plagued by a few loose ends. The recording benefits from Patrick Egan's (Showing Up for Life) bravura performance, though the story has been overtaken a bit by actual events. With some nice glimpses into Cuban life, this is likely to be popular in libraries serving Cuban populations. Others can probably pass. [Embeddable audio clip available through library.booksontape.com.—Ed.]—John Hiett, Iowa City P.L.

This geopolitical thriller, based on the actual case of the late writer/activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, calculates the price of oil in terms of human life, environmental damage, government corruption, and corporate acquiescence. Macmillan Audio's abridgment is masterful; the opening passage is especially well crafted. Two-time Audie Award nominee Peter Francis James handles the dialog, which calls for a variety of English-speaking accents, with aplomb. Surprisingly, the title includes a poorly recorded telephone interview with the author that detracts from the overall production. Nonetheless, highly recommended for libraries with small to medium-sized mystery/thriller collections, law libraries, and those with a large Patterson following. [The Holt hc was described as "a troubling yet engrossing read," LJ 11/1/08.—Ed.]—Gwendolyn E. Osborne, Evanston, IL

Nobel laureate, New York Times best-selling writer, and famed Buddhist leader Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, here describes the basic tenets of Buddhism while tying its practice to modern everyday life. The organization of the book is simple, with a fair amount of repetition presumably used to help familiarize the listener with the different lists of importance to Buddhist practitioners. Hopkins (Tibetan & Buddhist studies, Univ. of Virginia), who both translates and narrates this audio production, is the Dalai Lama's longtime interpreter. His voice has a soothing cadence and a peaceful way of emphasizing topics of great importance. The Dalai Lama, meanwhile, is clearly a fantastic teacher, offering great compassion when discussing difficult topics. Highly recommended for listeners of all faiths.—B. Allison Gray, Santa Barbara P.L. Syst., Goleta, CA

According to Hyman (UltraMetabolism), ADD, depression, and autism, among other disorders, are the body's response to poor nutrition, lack of nutrients, and exposure to toxins, and here he promotes his holistic "seven keys" approach to restoring health. Hyman's narration is animated and engaging; however, the numerous charts, graphs, and lists appearing in the print edition are omitted here. Consider current interest in this topic and the popularity of similar titles, and purchase where demand warrants. [The Scribner hc, a New York Times best seller, was recommended as a "discretionary purchase for larger consumer health collections," LJ 11/1/08; more info at www.ultrawellness.com.—Ed.]—Risa Getman, Hendrick Hudson Free Lib., Montrose, NY

New York Times best-selling author Korda's (Ike: An American Hero) account of the Battle of Britain focuses on lesser-known details about the political, diplomatic, military, and technical behind-the-scenes events and the extraordinary men and women involved on both sides of the conflict. John Lee's (Cochrane) distinctly British, at times Sean Connery-like narration steadily paces this fascinating new contribution to the literature on the battle, which adds important insights not covered in other titles on this subject. Recommended for university libraries and larger public libraries. [Embeddable audio clip available through library.booksontape.com; the Harper hc was "strongly recommended…as a literate and readable supplement to existing books on the subject," LJ 10/15/08.—Ed.]—Dale Farris, Groves, TX

This collection combines three works of ancient Chinese wisdom: The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership by various Zen masters, and The Book of Leadership and Strategy by various Taoist masters. Michael O'Keefe and David Warrilow deliver warm and rich narrations, adding inflections as necessary. Cleary's modern translation makes relevant to today's world these ancient texts, and his always intriguing commentaries and explanations help register with listeners these classics of Eastern philosophy. All three titles present stimulating, refreshing lessons on responsible leadership. Recommended for public libraries not already owning the three texts as single editions.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX

Wertheim follows up his well-received tale of a pool hustler, Running the Table, with this candid, eye-opening, and engrossing account of a successful athlete, his brutal and frequently misunderstood sport, and the fledgling league he helped to popularize. Wertheim's probe into the inner workings of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) league will entertain and enlighten listeners and may even shatter myths about mixed martial arts and its practitioners. Narrator Phil Gigante's (The Best Game Ever) deep voice and animated style perfectly suit the story's dramatic and often graphically violent content, making this a wholly convincing and satisfying listening experience for both fans and those curious about what all the recent media fuss is about. [Audio clip available through library.brillianceaudio.com; the Houghton hc was recommended "for all public libraries," LJ 12/08.—Ed.]—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

New York Times best-selling author Winget (www.larrywinget.com) presents his fourth self-help guide, following You're Broke Because You Want To Be (2008). At the start he cautions that his style is abrasive and may offend, but his advice is actually no-nonsense and practical (e.g., Want more money? Analyze your spending habits, cut out nonessentials, and don't live beyond your means). He repeatedly suggests forgoing television for reading, which librarians will appreciate. Winget reads his own work with an appealing Oklahoma twang and a perfectly timed delivery. Though the book doesn't cover new ground, the presentation will be popular. Recommended.—Nann Blaine Hilyard, Zion-Benton P.L., IL