ANATOMY OF A DISAPPEARANCE

The mournful overtones of Steve West’s narration match the loss felt by the male protagonist as remembers his life, including his father’s unexpected disappearance. The novel, which takes place in Egypt, is full of mixed emotions writhing under the surface. West’s precise pronunciation and restrained, brooding tone are delivered with pent-up feeling. Raspy and contemplative, West captures the narrator’s childhood recollections, retold as flashbacks. The only fault is the forced Arab accent he uses for the lines spoken by the mother and father. While not overdone, it’s at odds with the rest of the narration, which has a slight British sound. Nonetheless, audio enthusiasts will enjoy this production. M.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2011]