LINGER

As in SHIVER, the prequel tale of young love and teen werewolves in Minnesota, Jenna Lamia portrays Grace, and Pierce Cravens portrays Sam. In this sequel, Emma Galvin is the overwrought Isabel, and Dan Bittner seductively narrates the thoughts and deeds of Cole, a pop star turned werewolf to forget the pain of fame, drugs, and parental ambitions. As teens facing the crisis/beguilement of life as winter wolves, the four narrators do a splendid job. When the teens mimic their parents or teachers, the narrators sound appropriately wobbly—like kids in a school play—until parental fury steals the stage. As Sam, a budding songwriter, Cravens shows little vocal skill, but as the “cured" werewolf peremptorily placed in charge of the pack, he is terrific. The story’s climax leaves listeners panting for the next volume. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2010]