CROW TALK

Helen Laser delivers a tender and inviting performance of this dual- perspective novel about grief, friendship, and crows. Grad student Frankie has retreated to her family's cabin after a series of disappointments, hoping to make something out of the scraps of her dissertation. When she rescues an injured baby crow, she meets Anne and her son, Aidan. Anne, an Irish musician, is on leave after the death of her close friend and Aidan's sudden loss of speech. Laser's slightly raspy voice and Irish lilt are full of warmth and softness as Frankie. The chapters are peppered with bird facts from a fictional guide, which Laser narrates with distinct clarity. Hopeful and poignant, this meditative novel is a soothing listen. C.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]