THE TALENT

Six exceptional narrators deliver the hopes and fears of fictional actors nominated for the upcoming Oscars. They agonize over the past, their careers, their rivalries, and their futures. Cassandra Campbell is especially strong as Adria, an aging three-time award winner who is worried that her younger costar will outshine her. Nancy Linari captures the alienation and anger of Adria's rival, Jenny, who feels she never receives significant notice. Shakira Shute as Davina, a British import, offers a particularly winning performance, highlighting her discomfort at being in glitzy Hollywood. As actors Bitty, Contessa, and Eleanor, narrators Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Jade Wheeler and Janina Edwards all play their parts winningly. The novel lacks intensity, given such dramatic situations; however, the performances save the audiobook from being ho-hum. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]