SUGARING OFF

Caitlin Davies will have listeners savoring the details of a peaceful New Hampshire maple sugar farm, where 17-year-old Owl, who is partially deaf, lives with her adoptive aunt and uncle. Davies interjects tension and fear when Cody, a neighbor's son, appears suddenly and startlingly to help with the sugaring. A letter from Owl's father that announces his release from prison also heightens her alertness. Davies's renditions of dialogue are emotionally strong as she delivers the protective comfort of Owl's loving uncle, the brusqueness of Cody, and, later, his tenderness. Near the end, a murder occurs, and the audiobook spikes with new drama. Tension mounts with Davies's portrayal of a merciless villain. Themes of first love, treacherous personal histories, and broken trust are tightly woven. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]