THE EXTINCTION OF IRENA REY

Lanessa Tremblett narrates Jennifer Croft's intricate story of acclaimed Polish author Irena Rey. Rey invites eight of her translators to her home in the Bialowieza Forest to translate her latest title into their native languages. The translators are known only by their country's names, but after Irena disappears, leaving the group to function alone, their true names and competitive natures are revealed. Tremblett doesn't use different voices for the characters. Her matter-of-fact delivery misses much of the humor and nuance of Croft's wry observations. Trying to locate Irena offers many bizarre, often incredible encounters, which are recorded by "Spanish" and edited by "English." Tremblett never offers the performance one could wish for in this fascinating exploration of art, celebrity, jealousy, and the wonders of nature. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2024]