Naked in Death

The first in Robb's series featuring New York Police Detective Eve Dallas involves the detective in the high-profile murder of the granddaughter of a senator. It also begins her relationship with Roarke, the dashing businessman with a shadowy past who finds Dallas enormously intriguing. Susan Ericksen's narration is near perfect. Her deep voice conveys Dallas's straightforward nature and troubled history, as well as Roarke's soft Irish accent and suppressed emotion. She provides all the characters, no matter how minor, with interesting vocal presences and gives full measure to scenes of tension and danger. Newcomers to the series will want to hear more, and those who know the characters will find that Ericksen does them justice. M.A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Though there are a few hints, the listener does not suspect this thriller takes place in New York in 2053--until the first body is found. The victim is found dead with strange wounds inflicted by an antique weapon--a .30 caliber Smith and Wesson 10, from the 1990s. In ten years on job, Detective Eve Dallas has never seen such wounds--or the murder weapon, Dallas's hunt for the serial killer in a futuristic world is captivating, yet McMurdo-Wallis's reading does not measure up to the tale. She has a pleasant enough voice and reads her lines with expression, but her delivery is much too slow--sounding almost morbid at times. Her frequent pauses in the middle of sentences are more noticeable because of the slow pace. Nonetheless, the plot holds the listener's interest until its unique ending. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine