Random House Audio

Library Bookwatch, March, 2005

Random House Audio

1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019

www.randomhouse.com/audio

Four excellent new audio packages for leisure listeners combine professional, lively readers with excellent, tested writers. Richard North Patterson's new Conviction (0739301349, $26.95) receives Patricia Kalember's evocative, dramatic reading--perhaps enhanced by her extensive film, TV and theater background--as it tells of one Rennell Price, who has 59 days to live until he's executed for a murder he didn't commit. It's up to attorney Terri Paget to save him and she probes a dangerous world in her efforts to prove him innocent. Dean Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson's Frankenstein Book 1: Prodigal Son (0739317113, $29.95) receives John Bedford Lloyd's bold and brisk style as it tells of a dangerous killer who stalks the streets, lacks humanity, and involves a cynical female detective determined to track him down. Add conspiracy and a near-immortal race of killers to the mix and you have a tense plot brought to life by veteran actor/narrator John Bedford Lloyd. John Grisham's new novel The Broker is out (0739316443, $27.95), and when paired with Dennis Boutsikaris' award-winning performing voice, it's going to prove one of his most gripping thrillers ever. An outgoing President grants a last-minute pardon to a notorious Washington power broker in response to CIA pressure- and a game of intrigue, espionage, and smuggling evolves which involves various world political factions in a struggle. Packed with intrigue and exciting back-and-forth drama. Lisa Gardner's Alone (0739313061, $27.50) receives Holter Graham's involving reading as it tells of a hostage standoff and a moment of violence which connects three very different lives. A tense thriller comes to life under reader Graham's treatment.