THE FAMILY

Marin Ireland deftly narrates Krupitsky's debut novel, which traces the lives of two Italian-American girls born into 1920s-era Mafia families. Sofia and Antonia, best friends since birth, know that the Family offers them comfort and financial stability but that it is also capable of destroying everything they hold dear. Ireland skillfully captures the rhythms and flavors of the neighborhood as the girls grow from naïve children to knowing adults. Ireland ratchets up the tension by introducing a grittier tone that mirrors the women's increasingly complicated lives. She excels at bringing out the emotional undercurrents of this novel--the suppressed violence, the clenched words, and the sobering knowledge that comes with adulthood. Listeners will be captivated by this story of friendship and self-discovery amid ever-present menace. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2022]