The latest episode in the troubled life of Patterson's Alex Cross makes a very satisfying transition to audio thanks to top-notch narrators Michael Boatman and Steven Boyer. Boatman smoothly performs the chapters narrated by Cross, giving the D.C. police detective a thoughtful, measured tone that, when tested by a pair of vicious multiple murderers and an obsessed character from his past, turns tough, understandably aggressive, and, at times, unexpectedly guilt-ridden. Boyer gives voice to the twisted killers-one erudite and sinister, the other emotional and sleazy-whose plot to discredit Cross works surprisingly well; he also voices just about every other character in the novel. With a series as long running as this, the secret of success for each new addition is its ability to place its hero into a state of credible jeopardy. Patterson has done just that here, and the two narrators have turned his suspenseful and well-plotted novel into a riveting audio thriller. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Here the titular detective busts a party hosted by plastic surgeon Elijah Creem, who is caught making pornographic videos with underage women. This turns out to be just the tip of the iceberg of Creem's bad behavior as he and his friend Joshua are also responsible for a series of brutal murders. As if this were not enough, a man from Alex's past is bent on revenge and sets out to cause trouble for Alex's career, while life in the Cross household is disrupted by foster child Ava acting out. Michael Boatman narrates as Cross, his smooth voice contrasting perfectly with the high-strung, edgy voice of the killers voiced by Stephen Boyer. Listeners will find Cross's intimate moments at home with his family just as engaging as the scenes where he is chasing down serial killers. Verdict Recommended for fans of the series and thrillers in general. [The Little, Brown hc was a New York Times best seller.-Ed.]-Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P. L., South Bend, IN (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.