THE WITCH ELM

Narrator Paul Nugent's conversational delivery turns Tana French's stand-alone mystery into a painstaking confession over pints at a pub. Nugent's earnest tone makes the privileged and oblivious Toby seem charming as the story dives into the ripple effect of becoming a crime victim. After suffering a severe head injury from a brutal burglary, Toby stays with his ailing uncle in the ivy-covered family home. When a skull is discovered in the witch elm in the backyard, Toby begins to question his cheery memories of his youth and his relationship with his cousins. Nugent's myriad character voices sound authentic, keeping the listener locked inside Toby's head. French's faithful listeners will recognize the Dublin detectives who become involved, with Mike Rafferty taking the lead in the ivy house case. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2018]