Kliatt: Sleeper

SLEEPER. Gene Riehl. 2004. Read by David Colacci. 8 tapes. 11 hrs. Brilliance. 1-59086-939-7. $8725. Vinyl; plot notes. A

What's the connection between a priceless stolen painting, a drop-dead gorgeous Korean-American spy, and a high-profile planned assassination? That's what FBI agent Puller Monk has to figure out. It is a difficult and dangerous assignment, and Monk also has a number of personal issues to deal with--a gambling problem, the ever-increasing fear of losing his mind to Alzheimer's disease (as his father did), and a live-in girlfriend who thinks he's cheating on her with a woman whose increasing presence in the story bears watching. On top of all that, Monk is recruited by the NSA without the knowledge of the FBI to learn more about the missing painting and Sung Kim, the femme fatale spy.

As the savvy reader of this genre knows, things are often not what they seem and nobody is to be trusted. Colacci's easy style, marked by expert pacing and volume and nearly full voicing, makes the story a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Miles Klein, Frisco, TX

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