Priceless

Wittman's account of working undercover for the FBI to recover stolen art is a treasure trove of fascinating, well-told, and informative stories. One learns a great deal about famous art heists and the techniques of undercover investigation. As an audio experience, however, the production sounds a little too adept to be fully satisfying. Wittman worked with co-author Shiffman, and his text has a professional sheen that, chapter by chapter, comes to seem repetitive. Mark Deakins, too, though a skilled narrator, doesn't engage the listener with a distinctive tone, rhythm, or personality for the text, or its protagonist. His pace at times is too rapid for the material, and this also contributes to a sense of flatness. Still, these are not daunting weaknesses, and many will enjoy Wittman's tales of great art looted and recovered. D.A.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine