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Author Peter Lovesy has been doing his homework. Combining a thorough knowledge of England's rural landscape and the workings of a local pub with a wicked taste for murder, he has woven a frighteningly twisted tale of evil afoot. As the story opens, the relative tranquility of England's rural moors is shattered. A killer is on the loose, stalking eager young barmaids who are starving for attention; the kinds of girls who dream of white knights who'll whisk them away. As our heroine pours another round of pints for the boring lads she's known all her life, she sizes up the mysterious new patron: "I wouldn't be ashamed of him.... His looks are all right, quite dishy in fact. He must be intelligent. I haven't noticed an aggressive side to him...." But, while visions of an elegant home, beautiful clothes, and exotic holidays dance in her head, we're left wondering, "Is this poor girl next?" Barbara Rosenblat (The Secret Garden) narrates The Sedgemoor Strangler in smooth and silky tones that draw the listener ever deeper into the dark and deceptive plot. Her voice is a wonderfully supple gift, and although she sometimes luxuriates in its flexibility, it would be hard to fault her for being too melodious. Besides, Lovesy's well-crafted story is chilling enough to keep the narration honest and our attention riveted to the plot line. (Running time: two hours, one cassette) --George Laney
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