THE VANISHING YEAR

Narrator Madeleine Maby's smoky voice is perfect for the unfolding of this complex psychological thriller. Zoe Whittaker, wife of Wall Street tycoon Henry Whittaker, has the perfect life--or does she? Maby's steady reading shifts subtly as secrets are revealed and Zoe's perfect life starts to unravel. The story is set in New York City, and Maby uses appropriate ethnic accents rather than regional ones to capture the characters. But her delivery of dialogue is slow, almost halting, in sharp contrast to her fluid reading of the narrative. The story is a mystery within a mystery involving both Zoe and Henry, each with motives, fears, and hidden pasts that threaten to destroy their lives. Maby's mix of fluid narrative and stiff dialogue challenges listeners to stick with this production to the very end. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2016]