THE OCEAN IN WINTER

An exquisite ensemble performance enlivens this interfamilial mystery set against the ethereal backdrop of coastal Massachusetts in winter. Three adult sisters grapple with the emotional ramifications of their mother's suicide when they were children. With just a shift in breath or a slowing of pace, narrator Emily Lawrence conveys the shame, guilt, and deep self-loathing within the troubled youngest sister, Riley, who's gone missing. Rebecca Gibel voices the middle sister, Coleen, as her marriage and emotions unravel swiftly. Gabra Zackman narrates the strong eldest, Alex, in a steady and commanding voice. Zackman's performance really stands out when Alex voices herself at age 11, stumbling through traumatic memories from the day of the suicide. Listeners become easily invested in the sisters, bonded yet equally individualistic. J.T. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2021]