Powder Burn

In a vivid opening sequence, architect Chris Meadows witnesses the hit-and-run death of his ex-girlfriend and her daughter. He also sees the faces of their killers, a carload of drug-connected gangsters. From there, Chris's life grows ever more complicated, descending into the dangerous Cuban and Colombian drug scene. Robert Ramirez provides a nuanced performance, giving both Hispanic and Anglo characters realistic accents and personalities. Ramirez is chilling as cold-blooded hit man Mono, who is out to kill Chris, and silky as el Jefe, a prominent local banker, possibly Miami's next mayor. Ramirez keeps things taut and listeners guessing. Written before the hilarious satires that cemented Hiaasen's reputation, and co-authored with fellow journalist Bill Montalbano, this crime thriller about Ô90s cocaine trafficking in Miami is serious, well plotted, and utterly convincing. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine