The Day of the Jack Russell

Colin Bateman is quite a guy. He manages to write a witty mystery for adults with a stuffed Jack Russell terrier as one of its main characters. The no-name main character owns No Alibis mystery bookstore and moonlights as a private investigator. Narrator Stephen Armstrong perfectly recreates the varied cast, delightful Irish accents, and humor of every sort. The story progresses as crimes unfold, suspects move in and out of suspicion, and no name's many foibles are revealed, making him even more endearing. He has some odd relationships, including an insulting one with his elderly mother, and Armstrong's portrayal of her is hilarious. The book is ideal for audio since there are countless long lists and other details, the writing of which are also among no name's weird habits. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine