Retribution

On the surface, Lew Fonesca, a process server and sometimes investigator in Sarasota, is hardly a lovable character. Still grieving over his late wife, he is depressed and contemplative, and clearly he just wants to be left alone. In this second book of a new series, Lew again helps Adele, a troubled teenager who is systematically destroying stolen manuscripts, and locates the sister of a homeless man. The common denominator of these irresistible cases is that his clients are all people who have no one else to help them. Scott Brick seems to own each word. His delivery is thoughtful and relaxed, and it holds the perfect weight and texture to fit the plodding, dispirited detective. A superb interpretation. F.L.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine