THE BEACH AT SUMMERLY

Saskia Maarleveld's seductive, breathy voice is just right for this richly plotted novel. Emilia Winthrop, the caretaker's daughter at Summerly, the elegant Peabody estate, is enjoying her first summer following WWII. The Peabody sons return from the war, and their worldly Aunt Olive moves into a guest cottage. Maarleveld's range of voices swings from youthful to elderly with ease. When FBI agent Sumner Fox arrives in search of a spy who's transmitting atomic secrets from Summerly, he insists that Emilia help him. Maarleveld's pacing is spot-on, and her characterizations are consistently believable. She keeps the espionage subplot intense and the romance between Emilia and Shep Peabody sizzling. Glamorous backgrounds, romance, and international suspense give Maarleveld the raw materials to ensure this audiobook is an entertaining listen. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]