Frames

Estleman's short story character Valentino has finally made it to the big time--a full-length novel. The film archivist at U.C.L.A. stumbles onto two mysteries. In an abandoned movie theater he wants to purchase he finds a skeleton and reels of film that may be the only remaining examples of an Eric von Stroheim classic. Valentino attempts to help the police solve what might be murder while concealing the existence of the movie. William Dufris's narration is as lighthearted and fanciful as Estleman intended. Whether he's the sleuth Valentino, his know-it-all mentor, a wacky law student, or one of the other half-dozen characters, Dufris gives it his all with a chuckle and a wink. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine