THE SWITCH

A wife has been kidnapped and held for a million-dollar ransom. Her husband has filed for divorce and doesn't want to pay. What will she do? What will the kidnappers do? Hammer's narrative voice is classic sleuth book; low, deep, somewhat raspy and bloated with meaning. He creates suspense with well-timed pauses and captures every joke with deadpan accuracy. He also gives life to vivid characters with accents ranging from suburban sheltered housewife to African American thug to Detroit Nazi. These characters make the book, one of Leonard's best, an enjoyable, engrossing experience. R.I.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT 97]