PEPPERFISH KEYS

Darryl Wimberley portrays Barrett "Bear" Raines, a black cop whose beat is an affluent, predominately white, town in northern Florida. When a corrupt senator's daughter is murdered, Raines must solve the case before all the evidence disappears. This taut mystery is full of intrigue, complex plot twists, and finely scripted characters. Dion Graham gives a stellar performance as he moves fluidly through a multicultural cast of characters. Graham is so good he makes everyone from a Latino mobster to a white Southern socialite and a black college student sound authentic. Dialogues between characters are impressive—there’s never confusion about who is speaking. When narrator and author are so perfectly matched, the result is nothing short of dazzling. P.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]