EYES WIDE OPEN

Andrew Gross has crafted an unnerving novel based in part upon the suicide of his nephew, as well as his own chance meeting with Charles Manson 40 years ago. The result is, at times, a mesmerizing story that will leave some shaking their heads. At other moments, however, the story meanders. Narrator Christian Hoff’s use of accents and inflection helps focus the listener and minimizes the moments when the story seems to drift. Fortunately, those lulls disappear as the book builds to its memorable conclusion. As the tension grows, Hoff ably captures the intrigue and revels in the dialogue that sets Gross’s writing apart from that of more pedestrian writers. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]