Still Life with Crows

When a Kansas farming community is beset by a series of unusual murders, eccentric FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast finds himself navigating cornfields and dealing with hostile local cops in order to unmask the killer in this fourth installment in the thriller series from Preston and Child. Although narrator Scott Brick takes a little while to hit his stride—some of the voices he lends to supporting characters are generic and his Midwestern accents are at times questionable—his narration proves effective and many of the characters he creates are colorful and appropriate. Among the highlights are his chilling depiction of the book’s mysterious killer and his rendition of an arrogant scientist researching genetically modified corn. While not every aspect of this production qualifies as a home run, Brick’s significant talents shine through and make for an enjoyable listening experience. A Grand Central paperback. (July)