IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Narrator Barrie Kreinik enlivens a rather flat, predictable story about three sisters whose lives are turned upside down by the death of their mother. Listeners spend hours learning about the women's material and sexual desires, their career and marital insecurities, their paltry anxieties, and, of course, their relationships with each other. There are some memorable portrayals in this lengthy production. The soft, gentle voice of the masseuse in Duluth; the raspy timbre and Down East accent of grande dame Deirdre, who lives on Mount Desert Island, Maine; and the South Carolina drawl of ex-con and heartthrob C.J. Reynolds invigorate this production. Some listeners will feel they are enjoying a heartwarming family drama. Others may find the characters lackluster despite a more than competent rendering. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2022]