Chasing the Dead

Raudman delivers a bravura performance of Schreiber's excruciatingly suspenseful first novel. Set over the course of one horrific night, the book chronicles the trials of Susan Young, a wealthy divorcée, who receives a call from a mysterious stranger, informing her that he has abducted her one-year-old daughter and will kill her unless Susan does exactly what he wants. But this is far from a simple kidnapping; the detailed instructions given to Susan takes her deep into a horrific realm of murder, grave robbing, mutilated corpses and zombies, all controlled by the malevolent, uncompromising voice on the other end of Susan's cellphone. Raudman's smooth, intimate narration pulls the listener into this supernatural thriller with ease and consequently heightens the horrific incidents that pile onto Susan. The skillful narration is matched by individual character interpretation—each is given a distinctive voice and relayed with a natural, realistic delivery. This is most effective during the creepy cellphone conversations between Susan and her twisted tormentor. Not a story for the faint of heart. Simultaneous release with the Ballantine hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 14). (Nov.)