McCullough, Colleen. On, off.

McCULLOUGH, Colleen. On, off. Read by Lewis Grenville. 10 cds. 12.5 hrs. BBC Audiobooks America. 2006. 0-7927-4054-8. $94.95.Vinyl; plot, author, reader notes. SA

Connecticut in 1965 is the setting for this intricately plotted detective story by the well-known author of The Thorn Birds and many other novels, whose skill in developing fully fleshed characters is abundantly evident. When a woman's dead body is found in a famous neurological research institute's refrigerator, which usually contains only the corpses of experimental animals, Police Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico is called to investigate. The victim is a pretty girl in her mid-teens, carefully brought up by a loving family and an excellent student. She has been brutally raped and murdered. More deaths of similar exemplary and attractive girls follow. Both logic and instinct tell Lieutenant Delmonico that someone at the institute is responsible for these ghastly crimes, and he conducts a thorough investigation of all the doctors and other employees connected with it. After months of frustration in which the police have no clues whatsoever leading to the killer, an unexpected breakthrough occurs, leading to a shocking conclusion. Grenville's voice is well pitched and expressive as he narrates a story that explores character while creating mounting suspense. Pat Dole, Richmond, VA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.