Very low-key narrator that really grew on me. GREAT differentiation between the voices of the characters - male and female. I *believed* Alena was a woman speaking. Also, I had not read the previous books in this series (I will be, believe me!) but it made no difference. It caught me right up slowly and steadily without confusion. Really well done. If I hadn't been trapped in a car with on a fairly long drive with the hubby, I would have deferred to a different book because I like to read series in order. I'm glad I went ahead with this one. So enjoyed it. Several surprises in the story that kept me wanting to hear more. I am so disappointed that the previous ones are not on audio CD. I would really have loved to hear these AND read by this narrator (who I'll be looking for now!)