THE BOYFRIEND

Less is usually more. Heeding this advice might have improved Perry's new novel, and Robertson Dean's narration of it. Perry's story never makes up its mind whether it's a noir PI novel or a fast-paced thriller, and it doesn't completely succeed at either. Likewise, Dean tries too hard to take on too many voices: a gruff ex-cop turned PI, a smooth and seductive hit man, and the series of high-class prostitutes the hit man uses as covers. Dean commands the listener's attention with his clear reading and hypnotic basso profundo. But his female voices are syrupy, and the detective's husky tone sounds forced. Throughout the reading, Dean's enunciation is unnaturally precise and ultimately comes off as not believable. One has to wonder why publishers are willing to invest in a finished audiobook without providing more direction in the studio. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2013]