RICOCHET JOE

James Patrick Cronin narrates the story of the rapid-fire battle between an average Joe and an ancient evil. Joe Mandel dreams of becoming a famous author but bides his time by volunteering in peaceful Little City. Upon touching an item, he finds himself inexorably drawn to another and another until he stumbles upon a crime in progress. Portia Montclair, a fellow volunteer, educates Joe on his gift and the responsibility laid upon his shoulders to defeat a parasite from another reality. Cronin gives Joe a suitably mundane voice but lends some spice to the feisty Portia and unsettling edge to Joe's infected grandmother. The narrative benefits from languid pacing that belies its relatively short length, and injections of subtle humor offset the story's dark violence. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2018]