Burnt Sienna.

David Morrell. 2000/2001. Read by Gabrielle De Cuir. 6 tapes, 9 hrs. Phoenix Audio, American Audio Literature. 1-59040-180-8. $32.00. Cardboard, plastic; plot, reader notes. SA

Former marine, now famous artist, tall, handsome Chase Malone is asked by an obscenely wealthy international arms dealer, Derek Ballasar, to paint a portrait of his young, beautiful wife Sienna (before he kills her as he has done three other wives). Chase at first refuses but changes his mind for many reasons. Not the least is that the CIA is out to get Ballasar, and Malone is not averse to helping them for personal reasons of revenge. Set in Mexico and Italy, the adventure is fast paced and romantic, not graphic with either sex or violence. Actress DeCuir's fully voiced reading is deliberate and well paced, with excellent foreign accents in all the right places. Jean Palmer, KLIATT