Fall From Grace %E2%80%A8

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 performance%E2%80%94portraying some early confrontations with relatively muted understatement%E2%80%94but 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 students%E2%80%94lies 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 Graham%E2%80%94who read the previous books in the series%E2%80%94provides 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. (Mar.)