Missing Joseph

A vacation trip to bleak, wintry Lancashire turns into a busman's holiday for forensic scientist Simon St. James and his wife, Deborah. They investigate a suspicious death, drawing in Detective Inspector Linley. The competent and capable performance by Donada Peters does full justice to the story. Pacing is excellent, and character voices are well-differentiated. Varied accents--ranging from London to broad Lancashire--add diversity and interest for the listener. A professional and enjoyable production. J.D.P. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Elizabeth George's latest mystery involves parents, wives and lovers intertwined in a small English village with Inspector Lynley on his own. Many characters and subplots are laid out quickly at the beginning, but the abridgment doesn't allow much follow-through. The musical interludes obviously cover great gaps of plot and character development. Jacobi delivers a professional, clear narration with feeling for both the male and female characters. His reading of the spiritual passages adds a lyrical aspect, and he projects George's use of weather to set the stage with good effect. The presentation is a tantalizing introduction to Elizabeth George but doesn't succeed on its own. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine