THE UNDERCURRENT

An unsolved disappearance, three mothers, and family trauma are at the heart of this story, which is complemented by Sara Sheckells's somber narration. The novel is told in two time periods more than 30 years apart from the perspectives of three women: new mother Bee; her own mother, Mary; and Diana, the mother of her childhood crush, Leo, who is best friends with her estranged twin brother, Gus. None of the women are particularly sympathetic characters, yet Sheckells manages this melancholic, intense drama with an emotionally connected, understated delivery. An exploration of motherhood--how it changes not only a woman's body but also the ways she sees herself--winds through the narrative. Sheckells's unhurried pace and sincere unvoiced performance hold all the story elements together. S.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2025]