THE PEACH KEEPER

Karen White uses strong narrative skills to portray Willa Jackson, who returns to her small North Carolina hometown in a quest to redefine herself. In the resort town of Walls of Water, she discovers three others who are also searching for their true selves. White’s reading works well to deliver Allen’s plot and multifaceted characters. Willa, for example, masks insecurities about her family’s fall from social prominence and struggles to uncover their long-held secrets. White also depicts the quirkiness of minor characters like Agatha, a petulant octogenarian who knows much about dramas of the past. White’s interpretation works well for this mix of mystery, romance, and a touch of magical realism. S.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2011]