CALIFORNIA BEAR

Narrators James Urbaniak and Jesse Vilinsky grip listeners throughout the roller-coaster ride of this inventive thriller. The story features the California Bear, a serial killer who mysteriously disappeared decades ago. As interest in the long dormant case is reignited, an ex-police detective, Hightower, and his cohorts go on a mission to reveal the real Bear. The plot unfolds through four clearly identified points of view in alternating chapters. Urbaniak expertly delivers the chapters from The Bear and Killer (Jack Queen), and perfectly portrays the often inebriated Hightower. Vilinsky shines in delivering the chapters from the female leads: The Girl Detective (Queen's teenage daughter) and Hightower's wife, Gene Jeanie. The result is a masterfully told tale. In the afterword, Duane Swierczynski shares the touching story behind the novel. E.Q. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]