SELF-PORTRAIT WITH NOTHING

Jesse Vilinsky narrates this debut novel. Pepper loves her adopted mothers, but she's never revealed that she discovered the identity of her biological mother, Ula. Ula is a portrait artist who has found a way to access the multiverse by painting portraits. Through self-portraits with minor differences, she has created at least nine doppelgangers in alternative realities whom Pepper encounters when Ula goes missing. Vilinsky has a broad cast of characters, and she is adept at male and female voices. In searching for her mother, Pepper has adventures in Poland, for which Vilinsky showcases a Polish accent. Pepper stays in touch with her husband primarily through texts, which Vilinsky distinguishes from dialogue effectively. Vilinsky creates plenty of suspense in this quirky mystery-sci-fi mix. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]