Clandestine

Another of Ellroy's (BLACK DAHLIA, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL) unremittingly gritty, well-plotted murder mysteries set on the mean streets of L.A. in the '50s. The story of a talented and opportunistic young cop tracking down a serial killer is not for the squeamish. Perhaps that is why the publishers chose Jeremy Gage to read it--on the theatrical principle of playing against type. He has a particularly UNGRITTY, almost prissy sound. In addition, he is not a particularly interesting reader and at times sounds fatigued, as if fighting off a cold. He handles the characterizations well, though, particularly the women. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine