Road of the Dead
Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY -- School Library Journal, 8/22/2008
Road of the Dead (unbar.). 8 cassettes or 8 CDs. 11:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2007. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4281-6446-8: $78.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4281-6451-2: $108.75.
Gr 9 Up–Kevin Brooks’s novel (Chicken House, 2006) begins with the first person account of Ruben Ford, a 14-year-old part gypsy who is “envisioning” the brutal murder of his sister, Rachel, while sitting in the back of a car at his family’s auto shop in London. Rachel had been visiting an old friend in Lychcombe. Ruben and his hot-headed brother set out for the moors of Devon to find Rachel’s killer so that the coroner will release her body for burial and provide their bereaved mother some peace of mind. In the village, they stumble upon an unsavory cast of characters who have a lot to lose if the truth about the murder is revealed. After many false turns, red herrings, and violence, the reason for Rachel’s senseless death is uncovered. Paul Thornley’s well-paced narration helps build suspense, allows for Ruben’s depth of character to shine, and nicely handles the many dialects and accents. Mature listeners who enjoy British suspense and novels such as Robert Swindells’ Invisible! (Doubleday, 1999) and See You Down the Road (Knopf, 2004) by Kim Ablon Whitney will enjoy this exciting and mysterious tale.
