FIRE EXIT

Darrell Dennis navigates this touching novel about a family in distress; it's a gritty story about addiction, dementia, and obligations. Charles Lamosway is a white man raised on Maine's Penobscot reservation--an outsider. With the empathy created by Dennis, listeners will root for Charles as he deals with losing his mother and trying to connect with an estranged daughter, both of which he observes plaintively at a distance. Dennis depicts so much struggle--with the past and present constantly interfering with his moving on. Talty's debut novel is a virtuoso story of blood, heritage, beliefs, and the legacy of how we are indebted to others. Dennis's youthful tone and empathy for these troubled characters make this listen triumphant and bittersweet. R.O. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]