Foot in the Grave - Hardcover

Joan Aiken's many books for young people and adults have become modern classics. Her collections of scary stories include A Touch of Chill, Give Yourself a Fright, and A Fit of Shivers. Ms. Aiken lives in Sussex, England.

Shivery, creepy tales allow Denica Fairman to showcase her range of accents as she capably pulls off British, Scottish, Italian, American and Canadian characters. Although she reads some stories with little voicing, most have highly differentiated characters. Some are exceptionally effective, such as Zia Tisna, whose high, quivery voice is thick with the sounds of Sicily, and Aunt Ada, whose officious brogue makes her despicable. Other characters are grating, particularly males, such as the student and the lumbering art historian and insect exterminator, whose voices would better match those of simple-minded cartoon characters. Unfortunately, editing decisions were not always made with the listener in mind. Stories break at odd junctures for side or cassette changes, often close to the end of a story. Forgiving listeners will enjoy the spooky tales, however, and some memorable characterizations. T.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine