The Killer of Little Shepherds

A series of killings takes place in France between 1894 and 1897. The killer, Joseph Vacher, finds himself being stalked by an intrepid forensic examiner, the famed criminologist Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne. The doctor had pioneered a new science that specialized in identifying felons. True-crime fans will love the intricate descriptions of disfigured and gory remains, and technical listeners will be fascinated by the details of forensic knowledge before 1900, which included blood spatter, poison, and hematologic analysis. The low-toned whisper effect of narrator Erik Davies's voice adds to the suspense. He changes his speech to a different range for quotes, but most importantly, he speaks perfect French, which is called for by the setting of the senseless murders and the long hunt for the killer. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine