Compulsion

How does Kellerman keep up his fan base through 22 books? By providing what they love: multiple mysteries with many twists in each title, the dynamic relationship between his characters detective Miles Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware, subtle humor, and witty dialogue. And he always gives something new--this time a series of murders connected by luxury cars. How does narrator John Rubinstein keep up his fan base? By providing what they love: primarily, the contrast between the gravelly, emotional voice of Sturgis and the straightforward, intellectual approach of Delaware, a blend that audio addicts have come to count on. Further, he keeps things fresh with captivating cameos of secondary characters. In this title we hear a thick-accented Russian patriarch and his exuberant grandchild. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

May 26, 2008
Rubinstein, who has had a long, successful run as the voice of Kellerman's popular hero, Dr. Alex Delaware, has seldom been more appreciated than on this rather mediocre entry in the series. While the doctor and his gruff, gay LAPD detective pal Milo Sturgis slog through a now too-familiar witness-to-witness search for a killer (in this case, a particularly loathsome one who uses disguises and pricy black automobiles), Rubinstein revs up the action, providing the secondary characters with an energetic array of on-target vocals and refining and deepening his stellar interpretations of the leads. Thanks to him, there's a nuanced wistfulness in Delaware's approach to both the hunt for the killer and his ever-shifting relationship with girlfriend Robin. And Sturgis's gravelly growl has a definitive quality that suggests a maturity both tougher and more thoughtful than in the past. Simultaneous release with the Ballantine hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 25).