Murder on the Run

June 3, 1991
The satisfying momentum never flags from this first novel's opening moment when PI Ronnie Ventana's early morning jog turns into a race for her life. Having witnessed a man hurl another into the San Francisco Bay, Ventana soon recognizes the perpetrator as Pete August, an ex-cop and private investigator so well-connected as to be virtually untouchable--especially when the police fail to recover the victim's body. Colorful characters--including Ventana's salty PI mentor Blackie Coogan, August's beauteous lady friend Judge Martha Coyle and a coterie of seedy informers and enforcers--all contribute surprises as the action breezes along. Despite frosty noncooperation from the police, Ventana seems to have all the angles figured until another eyewitness surfaces, a child whose testimony makes her rethink the entire case. Then a report of a long-ago rape leads Ventana to her final encounter with the murderer and to a neatly tied unexpected ending. Readers will want more of Ventana, an appealing protagonist who engages in intelligent, stylish sleuthing.

Ronnie Ventana, an appealing San Francisco PI, makes her audio debut in style. She's drawn into a case involving a former DA, a judge and intriguing secrets. Carol Cowan delivers a dynamic portrait of the tough but vulnerable Ventana. Cowan's deep, resonant voice has great range and projects humor and warmth into the snappy dialogue. She's good with accents and bit parts. Cowan's performance is balanced and dynamic, enhancing the story beyond its print counterpart. Cowan is a narrator to listen up for! R.F.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine