Rafael Sabatini's The Sea-Hawk tells the story of an Elizabethan Englishman who, after being betrayed by his half-brother and sold into slavery, joins the swashbuckling pirates of the Barbary Coast. Historic and melodramatic, this audiobook chucks listeners right into the middle of the action. John Bolen turns in a solid performance. He is not afraid to pause to let the imagery settle, nor to use rapid-fire pacing to bolster action sequences. He particularly hits his stride with his characters' voices, from the high-pitched women to the heavily accented pirates. For fans of good old-fashion melodrama, X marks this spot.