START-UP

Narrator Jacob York nails the youthful, selfish, unemployed Tom of Olen Steinhauer's short story. Tom narrates the tale of his friend Jerry's determination to become a criminal mastermind in the vein of a Bond villain. Tom plays along with Jerry's planning until it becomes reality and he recruits Tom as an employee of his nefarious start-up. York's dynamic approach to the two friends' dialogue emphasizes Steinhauer's dichotomy of lighthearted humor and dark events, while his atmosphere development heightens the suspense. At 45 minutes, START-UP is a great audiobook for a workout, driving the heart rate up through the listening experience as well as exertion. Whether or not they want to sweat, crime fiction fans should enjoy this story from Mulholland Books's Strand Originals series. J.F. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2016]