Fall From Grace

August 20, 2012
Patterson's latest thriller unravels a sordid knot of family secrets following the suspicious death of prominent author Ben Blaine on the island of Martha's Vineyard. As suspense builds gradually, narrator Dennis Boutsikaris offers a restrained performanceâportraying some early confrontations with relatively muted understatementâbut later cranks up the intensity for the most stunning revelations. Not every supporting character receives a full-fledged rendering from Boutsikaris, but the focus he places on the inner lives of the principal figures ultimately fits the essence of Patterson's storytelling. Boutsikaris is especially adept at portraying the ambivalence of protagonist Adam Blaine, a CIA operative who draws on his intelligence skills to solve the murder of a father from whom he has been bitterly estranged for over a decade. And, Boutsikaris's gripping reading of the physical descriptions of perilous seaside scene of the crime provides memorable mental images. A Scribner hardcover. (Mar.)

Infamous: Chronicles of Nick
Sherrilyn Kenyon, read by Holter Graham
MacMillan Audio, unabridged, seven CDs, 8.5 hrs., $29.99 ISBN 978-1-4272-1489-8
In Kenyon's latest installment in the Chronicles of Nick series, 14-year-old Nick Gautier continues to learn about his heritage and destiny in a world where vampires, demons, and gods are very real. An excellent student at a private school in New Orleans, Nick has a way of always finding trouble. This time around, someone is posting lies about other studentsâlies that incite beatings and thoughts of suicide. With all the evidence indicating that Nick is the culprit, he and his friends must work to set things right. Holter Grahamâwho read the previous books in the seriesâprovides engaging narration and well-rendered voices for all the book's recurring characters. As Nick, his voice is youthful and light and totally believable. For the book's villains, Graham's voices are equally spot-on accurate and entertaining. A thoroughly entertaining listen. Ages 12-up. A St. Martin's Griffin hardcover.

Starred review from January 9, 2012
Legal questions hang on every twist and turn of this tightly woven nonlegal thriller, bestseller Patterson’s best novel since 2009’s Eclipse. After 10 years away from home, Adam Blaine returns to Martha’s Vineyard after his estranged father, world-famous writer Benjamin Blaine, is found dead at the bottom of a high promontory overlooking the sea. Survivors include Adam’s mother, Clarice; his gay brother, Teddy; his old girlfriend, Jenny Leigh; and his father’s movie star girlfriend, Carla Pacelli, all of whom had reason to have shoved Ben off the cliff. Ben’s recently amended will leaves $10 million to Carla, $1 million to Jenny, and $100,000 to Adam, who’s also named the executer of the estate. Clarissa and Teddy inherit nothing. The mysterious Adam, who’s ostensibly working for an agriculture company in Afghanistan, must figure out who killed Ben and break the will. Readers will enjoy unraveling the tangled mystery alongside Adam right up until the last revelation. Agent: Bonnie Nadell, Hill Nadell Literary Agency.