WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS

Karissa Vacker performs this thriller about Naomi, who as a child survived a brutal stabbing witnessed by her two best friends, Cass and Liv. Two decades later, after the attacker dies behind bars, Naomi returns home to see her friends and prepare for the inevitable media blitz. Vacker infuses her delivery with Naomi's PTSD symptoms and lingering doubts about exactly what happened that day in the woods. She differentiates the other two women by emphasizing Cass's cool detachment and Liv's shaky hold on reality as the trio wonders whether they should tell the police about their shared secrets. Vacker's male voices are not as strong, but her overall performance, especially her solid pacing, will keep listeners guessing. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]