THE NIGHT SHE LIED

Narrator Rachel Atkins is a gift. Her performance of Dawson's suspenseful psychological thriller will seep into listeners' consciousness, keeping them on the edge of their seats. Atkins's talents are showcased immediately in the opening scene in which the protagonist, Jude, stands in a courtroom, awaiting the jury's decision about her fate. Jude, an emergency room nurse who works on the night shift, is charged with the murder of a new suitor, Rik. He has a disturbing past with her mother, Margaret, a treacherous and miserable woman. Atkins moves the story with exquisite pacing and tone. She captures the characters' weaknesses--Jude's vulnerability and naïveté, Rik's trauma and despair, and Margaret's vicious narcissism. The partnership of Atkins and Dawson should be celebrated. P.P.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]