THE CHAMELEON EFFECT

When a narrator writes his own audiobook, one expects accents and dialogue to steal the show, and that is the case with Joe Arden's literary debut. In the clever story, aspiring L.A. actor William O'Connell tries a fake Irish accent at an audition and finds that it opens doors to fame and romance. Arden contrasts Will's unaccented American dialogue with "Liam's" light Irish accent and stock slang. Listeners also experience Will's maelstrom of emotions as he stumbles through his impulsive charade. Varied voices for his friends, family, and young niece round out the performance. Arden hits his groove when Will's life falls apart; his shock and desolation permeate the audio and will transfix listeners. Narrator Maxine Mitchell provides TikTok blurbs. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2022]