THE HEIRS

Rieger's family saga is satisfyingly rich with complex characters and tangled relationships. Narrator Kimberly Farr's straightforward, crisply paced delivery keeps the text moving and the listener on track throughout. Rupert and Eleanor Falkes and their five handsome sons are wealthy Manhattan's golden family. Then Rupert dies, and the picture of perfection begins to crumple. Farr offers a reasonable British accent for transplant Rupert but wisely employs simple tone and inflection changes to differentiate between the many other characters. As buried secrets emerge, toppling long-held family truths, Farr conveys the emotional intensity without resorting to drama. Although some of the events challenge credulity, and some listeners may find intimate scenes too explicit, Rieger's story is intriguing, and Farr's masterful presentation makes it difficult to step away. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2017]