12.21

Fred Sanders matter-of-factly begins the narration of this medical thriller about a case of fatal familial insomnia (FFI), a rare illness that prevents Patient Zero from sleeping, and a codex he looted from a Mayan lost city. Dr. Gabe Stanton discovers that FFI is airborne and searches for a cure while museum curator Chel Manu uses the codex as the key to mysteries of the Mayan civilization and its collapse. Narrators Fred Sanders and Noel Rodriguez are authentic, clear, and engaging; as the major characters, they're both likable and identifiable. And they effectively use pacing and accents to depict the supporting characters. In particular, Sanders's portrayal of Gabe resonates with the doctor's desperation in the face of so many patient deaths. This production entertains with its puzzles and its performances. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine