SMOTHERMOSS

Narrator Susan Bennett employs a light Mountain accent to reflect the Pennsylvania Appalachian locale of this dark fairy tale. Her character voices, especially those of its featured characters, flourish into even stronger accents that ground them more squarely in the holler. Part coming-of-age in the 1980s, part magical realism, and part horror, the story follows impoverished sisters Sheila and Angie as they endure the hunt for the killer of two female hikers and ostracism from their peers. Bennett projects the emotional turmoil of Sheila, the older sister, in a higher, more strident tone, while younger, war-obsessed Angie has a belligerent tone. Unsettling and engrossing, this exploration of regional isolation will resonate with the listener long after the audiobook ends. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]