VERONICA MARS: THE THOUSAND DOLLAR TAN LINE

Actress Kristen Bell IS Veronica Mars, the smart, plucky private investigator of the eponymous TV show, so it's only appropriate that she narrate Veronica's continuing crime-solving adventures in Neptune, California. Bell is a natural with the book's wry noirish tone, illuminating the town's seedy underbelly and the class conflicts between Neptune's super rich and everyone else. She convincingly characterizes Veronica's PI dad, her friends Mac and Wallace, and the cast of characters she encounters while she's investigating the disappearance of two young women during spring break. The case twists and turns, putting Veronica in emotional and physical jeopardy and keeping listeners guessing. Even if you're not familiar with the show, tough, tiny, blonde, relentless Veronica is worth getting to know. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]