WHISPER TO THE BLOOD

Stabenow’s long-running mystery series, set in cold, wintery Alaska, acquaints listeners with Aleutian P.I. Kate Shugak; her boyfriend, state trooper Jim Chopin; and their adopted son, 16-year-old Johnny Morgan. Marguerite Gavin's precise narration captures Kate's independence and strength yet also delivers high emotion, when appropriate, with a studied hoarseness. Gavin reads the painterly descriptions of the landscape with verve and excels at building tension as homicides take place that may be related to a Canadian mining firm’s plans to begin open-pit operations in a nearby national park. Gavin superbly masters the pronunciation of native names and places as well as the cadence of native speakers, making this title an exquisite listening pleasure. S.C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]