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THE BONE VAULT
by Linda Fairstein
Recorded Books, December 2003
Unabridged audio pages
$47.95
ISBN: 1402577230


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Buy or rent from www.recordedbooks.com

Although I don't usually listen to a book after I have read it, I couldn't resist this version of one of my favorite books of 2003, Linda Fairstein's THE BONE VAULT. This was even more enjoyable as Barbara Rosenblat is one of my favorite readers. How long it takes me to listen is greatly dependent on how much driving I'm doing since I only use the CDs in my car. Sometimes I've been known to take small journeys, just to listen.

It's always a real treat to spend time with Alex Cooper and Mike Chapman and to learn more about New York City landmarks and institutions. This time it's the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. When the body of a young intern at the Cloisters is found in a sarcophagus on a ship bound for Egypt, Alex and Mike find the inner workings of the museums, not to mention its many hidden rooms, both fascinating and possibly deadly.

It's an intriguing tale after which one will never look at the institutionalized collection of art and artifacts, including human bones, in quite the same way. It's also a view of why other cultures and countries may not look upon the European/American penchant for 'collecting' with quite the reverence that collectors have come to expect.

As always Fairstein intersperses other cases that the Sex Unit of the District Attorney's office is investigating. There is also some interesting, but very subtle movement in the relationship between Alex and Mike.

Although books rarely cause me to cry, Alex's recounting of the events of September 11 from her viewpoint as well as from Mike's brought tears to my eyes. It's a beautiful and heartrending account that has nothing to do with the story, but fits in beautifully with the novel. It is also a story that I imagine Linda had to tell. Rosenblat's recitation brought added poignancy to the memories.

THE BONE VAULT is a wonderful book and Rosenblat certainly does the audio version justice with her reading. If I have any quibbling, it's with the voicing of Mike Chapman. She almost makes him sound like a "dese, dem and dose cop" when one doesn't get that impression from the books.

If you haven't read THE BONE VAULT, grab this audio book, or even if you have read it; you will enjoy the Recorded Books audio version as well.

Reviewed by Doris Ann Norris, March 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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