SHOOTING MONARCHS

Jonathan Davis narrates this disturbing story with appropriate somberness. Unwanted and neglected as a child, Macy begins a life of crime and spends his early years in and out of juvenile detention centers. As he ages, his crimes become more serious, eventually leading to murder while he is still a teen. Halliday's novel sympathetically explores Macy's criminal mind while continually forging the link between his adolescent behavior and the abuse he suffered in childhood. With matter-of-fact tones, Jonathan Davis portrays the complexity of Halliday's main character, asking questions about morality and justice. Although the subject matter is dark, elements of hope and forgiveness are provided through a wide cast of characters. Davis's performance is rich with tension and tenderness as the listener witnesses Macy's struggles with loneliness and violence. K.M.D.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 04]