A FLAW IN THE DESIGN

Narrator David Pittu understands creepy--in a good way. He narrates this thriller, instilling so much doubt and suspicion that listeners may even question the loyalty of Elroy, the family dog. Pittu is particularly convincing as Matthew, the super-creepy 17-year-old nephew who moves in and wreaks havoc on his legal guardians, a college-town family of four. Pittu also adds some dignity to Gil, the insecure patriarch who ultimately transforms to defend his family. The story borrows from THE BAD SEED playbook, asking whether an evil child is the result of nature or nurture. It all makes for a nail-biter of a listen, although some may find that the ending, like the climax of the 1956 movie, sacrifices narrative honesty for moral equilibrium. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]