THE MAGNIFICENT RUINS

Deepa Samual narrates a family saga that spans continents and generations of secrets. In 2015, Lila De works for a boutique publishing firm in New York. When she unexpectedly receives word that her grandfather has died and left her the crumbling family home in Kolkata, Lila travels there to deal with it. Samuel gives Lila a believable mix of professional confidence and social insecurities that will be familiar to many. Lila's large family in India spans multiple generations, and Samuel's occasional struggles to distinguish the various aunts, uncles, and cousins lead to some confusion for listeners. Lila's New York publishing world is easier to keep track of, although Samuel doesn't create any truly memorable performances outside of Lila herself. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]