The Room of White Fire

Voice actor Damron’s soft, sensitive rendition of Parker’s suspense novel captures an important part of its protagonist Roland Ford’s psyche. He’s world-weary and suffering the loss of his beloved wife, but he happens to be an ex-pro boxer, ex-cop, and former Marine, and he’s now a private eye, so one would expect he might sound a little tougher around the edges. Damron’s delivery is a good fit for Ford’s quarry, Clay Hickman, an emotionally disturbed Air Force vet who has recently escaped from Arcadia, a private mental hospital in San Diego County, Calif. Hickman’s therapist, who has hired Ford, explains that Hickman may hurt himself or others, a possibility also mentioned by Arcadia’s owner. Ford soon discovers that Hickman’s tour was in Romania, probably at a horrific black torture site. The narrative mixes Ford’s progress with his visits with family and eccentric friends at the ranch he inherited from his wife, many of whom are given their own voices by Damron as well. Damron’s multifaceted performance helps bring the characters in Parker’s thriller to life. [em]A Putnam hardcover. (Aug.) [/em]