DESPERATE An Epic Battle for Clean Water and Justice in Appalachia

Narrator Gibson Frazier smoothly navigates the many legal thickets encountered by environmental lawyer Kevin Thompson as he pursued justice in Mingo County, West Virginia. The coal industry had been polluting the water there for decades, making residents sick, stinking up their homes, and even ruining their appliances. Frazier has excellent timing, a smooth voice, and appropriate vocal variations that differentiate between direct quotes, written documents, and the narrative. He portrays the multiple people who are part of this story with seeming ease. The work is wide-ranging and deep, with clear descriptions of the complicated search for the source of the contaminated water and the rags-to-riches-to-jail story of the company manager. Historical lore relating to the notorious Hatfield-McCoy feud and union busting provides ambiance. A.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2022]