BROTHER CADFAEL: The Sanctuary Sparrow

Here are two mysteries solved by Ellis Peters's medieval monk, Brother Cadfael. The producers have lifted the sound tracks from the popular British TV version and added narration to clarify the action. Talk about recycling! Although one hears a bit more sound than one would like, the patchwork is accomplished fairly well. Whenever possible, the new clarifying narration is slipped over the TV sound track, rather than spliced in, so as not to disturb the flow of action. The narrator always speaks with tension appropriate to the dramatic content of the scenes, his text never exceeding what is absolutely necessary. Still, however carefully done, the tapes sound like what they are: TV with the lights out. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]