Fiddle Game

Thompson's convoluted story tells of a troubled bookie who is trying to avoid his shady past, only to fall straight into an elaborate and deadly con game. Trying to make sense of this plot is narrator Robertson Dean, who assumes the role of protagonist Herman Jackson. Dean's voice, rich with character and mystery, gives the sense of a man with his fair share of secrets to tell. In this underplayed performance, Dean offers little in the way of improvisation and acting, opting instead to read the story in one gritty voice that tends to grate on the ears of the listener. As Jackson, Dean is perfect in his delivery, but his lack of variation for the supporting characters slows the story. L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

October 1, 2007
This uneven debut introduces bail bondsman Herman Jackson, who sees nothing unusual when a woman calling herself Amy Cox comes to his office to arrange bail for her brother. She offers her violin as collateral, claiming it's an Amati worth $60,000 or more. Shortly after handing over the instrument to Jackson and getting a replacement from a nearby pawn shop, Amy is killed and the loaner stolen. Thus begins a wild, extravagant bait-and-switch. To get to the bottom of Amy's death and figure out who's conning him, Jackson must go back 60 years to learn the full story of the violin. The most charming character is a brassy waitress, Rosie, who plays Watson to Jackson's Holmes. Jackson himself is not especially well-developed, and the mystery would be stronger with fewer plot twists. Still, Jackson's location on the edge of the justice system is a good setup for a sequel, and with a bit of seasoning, Thompson may have a successful series on his hands.