THE GHOST MAP

Here is one of those audiobooks in which all the ingredients come together to create a first-rate listen. To begin with, it’s a gripping story. Johnson’s narrative of the 1854 cholera epidemic in London is humanized by his portrayal of the people who suffered through it, including the intrepid doctor, John Snow, who ultimately traced the outbreak to contaminated water. Johnson is also a big thinker, and his argument about how disease has affected the future of urban living adds a second layer of intrigue. Finally, the threads of this Victorian detective story are pulled together by the expert narration of Alan Sklar, whose voice draws you into the tale and holds you to the end. D.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 07]