THE EXHIBITIONIST

Taking place over a weekend in London, this audiobook is funny at times, but more often its dysfunctional characters make the listener cringe. Ray Hanrahan is a semi-famous painter who is married to his former student Lucia, a sculptor. As his comeback exhibition approaches, he demands that his three adult children return home to witness it. Juliet Stevenson captures the wide-ranging personalities and emotions of the characters and is particularly effective at depicting Ray's narcissism and volatility. As the weekend progresses, Lucia receives exciting news about her own art, adding to the secrets she is keeping. The children are also hiding things about their lives. Listeners will be eager to find out what happens when Ray's darkness and egotism become impossible to ignore. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]