BEASTLY TALES

An anthology from the Mystery Writers of America, this collection of ten short stories by ten good mystery writers is a fine companion for short trips. The common theme is animals, and the selections are well-chosen. When the narrators concentrate on their stories, presenting straight, unadorned readings, the results are excellent. But when they dramatize the parts, concentrating on the dialects, age differences and genders, the story itself becomes an afterthought. In the short framework of these stories, the highly dramatized parts can confuse the listener. J.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JAN 93]