FEAR IN THE FOREST

In the delightful audio interview that follows this second mystery about Crowner John, a twelfth- century English county coroner, Bernard Knight says that he is "a bit of a twelfth-century nut." Be forewarned--one listen and you, too, will be hooked. Bernard Knight does a marvelous job turning fact-filled history into an engaging story full of believable characters. In this book, we follow Crowner John into a conflict between officers of the Royal Forest and the forest's neighbors, both peasant and landed gentry. Paul Matthews makes one want to listen forever. His Crowner is gruff but lovable, the odious Sheriff sounds like a medieval lounge lizard, and the denizens of the forest are audibly shaded by their harsh life. Matthews also adroitly manages Knight's many brief diversions into historical fact; they're offered seamlessly and accepted with fascination. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]