A PLACE OF HIDING

Everyone on Guernsey, one of the English Channel Islands, has something to hide. At least, it seems that way to Simon and Deborah St. James when they visit the island to help an old American friend of Deborah's who hasbeen accused of murder. In the latest of her bestselling mystery series, Elizabeth George probes the limits of love and guilt, and may probe the limit of some readers' patience, for this is a rambling tale. Donada Peters is a pro who sticks with every twist and turn. The Guernsey characters exhibit a revealing range of voices, her version of Simon sounds accessibly highbrow, and her Deborah is ever so subtly the insecure whiner that she is (book by book) revealing herself to be. Only the American accents don't work, although Peters delineates their characters expertly. A fine job. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]