THE BRIAR CLUB

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld enlivens the characters in this masterfully crafted window onto the 1950s. While there are murders and other crimes, the focus is the individual stories of the women boarders of Briarwood House in Washington, DC. The novel depicts the realities of the McCarthy era: women’s evolving roles, racism, and immigrant challenges. While the recipes sprinkled throughout might be disruptive to the narrative flow, they do not diminish the overall listening experience. Maarleveld perfectly delivers the voice of each character. Her talent for accents coupled with Quinn’s vivid writing makes this audiobook a compelling and informative listening experience. E.Q. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2024 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]