POOR DEER

There's a strange fable-like quality to this novel about grief and the stories children tell to make sense of it. Sophie Amoss brings all that into her performance by varying her tone and pacing, and shifting her voice as the story moves between time periods. As a girl, Margaret loses her best friend in a tragic accident. Her role in the death is murky, and as she grows older, her memory of events takes on a life of its own. She's haunted by a strange creature named Poor Deer, whom Amoss voices in a low, disturbing rasp. She creates further tension in her portrayal of secondary characters, including Margaret's mother and aunt. This is a complex audiobook with plenty of rewards for patient listeners. L.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]