Blow Fly

This entry in Cornwell's long-running series cedes Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta's spotlight role to her fiery crime-busting niece, Lucy, and Marino, the opinionated Richmond detective. Kate Reading's low, comfortable voice and good impersonations are a perfect fit for Cornwell's wild plot twists and calculating psychopaths. Reading convincingly renders each of the characters, male and female, sane and insane, with an appropriate frisson of fear. Listeners will find themselves compelled to hear the gruesome details even when repelled by the Hannibal Lecter-like Jean-Baptiste or his even scarier handsome twin, Talley. Dedicated fans may be disappointed, but Scarpetta is still changing and growing. S.C.A. 2004 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine