Until Proven Guilty

A little girl is murdered, and a mysterious woman in red comes to the funeral. Both events unalterably change the life of Homicide Detective J.P. Beaumont. Engene starts off well with deep, gruff tones perfect for an older, big city cop. Unfortunately, though, he has a tendency towards the melodramatic which often overshadows the irony of the text. He handles the frequent (though not graphic) sex scenes well, realizing the author's objective is to portray obsession rather than titillate. One jarring note is his selection of voice for a minor character--the girlish, lisping whine for a gay character has no place in these supposedly enlightened times. S.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine