THE LAMB

Emma Rydal's intense performance as Margot, a child living with her cannibalistic mother ("Mama"), will remain with listeners long after the devastating climax of this audiobook. Throughout her childhood, lost and wayward travelers of all ages, people deemed "strays," are lured inside their home, where they're murdered and eaten. All of this Rydal recounts to listeners with the matter-of-factness one might express about raising cattle. Margot's school days are a stark contrast as she spends time alongside a caring bus driver and explores friendship with schoolmate Abbie. Rydal's warm, genuine character portrayals connect Margot to possibilities beyond those at home. Rydal deepens the visceral experience of this must-listen production with her unsettling depiction of Mama's mercurial temperament and her girlfriend Eden's casual cruelty. J.R.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]