MIDNIGHT RUNNER

Jack Higgins can spin a tale with the best thriller writers, but his previous novel, EDGE OF DANGER, was formulaic, almost derivative. His latest, though, shows off the author's skills well. It focuses on Kate Rashid, the last member of an Arab-English family, who is bent on gaining revenge against Great Britain in general and Sean Dillon in particular. Dillon was responsible for the death of her brothers. The action takes place in London, Scotland, and the Arabian desert. The pace is quick and lends itself well to audio. Patrick Macnee, who has read several Higgins novels, does a solid job, especially with accents. His clear reading makes listening a pleasure. Between his narration and the fast-paced, action-filled plot, there's no chance of nodding off while listening to this book. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]