NEGATIVE GIRL

Libby Cudmore and Jay Karnes take turns bringing vibrancy to lead characters Valerie and Martin in this tightly woven noir. Cudmore's delivery reinforces Valerie's practical personality as she leaves behind a shadowy past and starts anew as an assistant at Martin's PI firm in Upstate New York. Karnes gives ex-punk rocker Martin a dismissive tone that hides a vulnerable soul. When the sudden death--murder?--of an old bandmate's daughter leads Martin to end his 19-year sobriety streak, Karnes's slurred speech and defiant tone contrast with Cudmore's crisp enunciation as she intervenes. While Karnes's lack of vocal variety makes it difficult, at times, to differentiate characters, listeners will be eager to hear how the masterful plot spins out. E.E. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]