Torn

Haley Corbin refuses to believe that her son is the only child to have died in the explosion of the school gym, so she hires ex-FBI agent Randall Shane. His investigation leads to a cult in the remote Rocky Mountains that has split into two factions in a dangerous power struggle. The voices of Coleen Marlo and Sean Runnette work well here, alternating the narration. Marlo's performance is more emotional and dramatic, which suits her portrayal of the frantic mother who has already lost her husband and will not accept that her son is dead. Both narrators handle the individual characters' voices (male and female) in a convincing way. While the plot requires a suspension of disbelief, this is an enjoyable listen. S.S.R. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

December 22, 2008
In Jordan's heart-pounding third Randall Shane venture (after 2007's Trapped
), the FBI agent turned lost child locator is called upon to do the impossible. After an explosion at the elementary school in tiny Humble, N.Y., 10-year-old Noah Corbin's remains—a few bits of tissue and blood—have been identified. Stubbornly refusing to admit that her son is dead, and having worn out the patience of local authorities, Haley Corbin contacts Shane. Before long, between his own investigative skills and a little help from FBI buddies, Shane starts to peel away the layers of what appears to be an abduction plot by a cultlike group with personal ties to Noah and his deceased father. The ensuing chase and rescue in a remote Colorado mountain aerie stretch credulity at times but provide a satisfying romp.