THE 5TH WAVE

If you get confused about who the good guys are in this story, don't worry. It's all explained in the end. The feeling of uncertainty is part of the plan to make listeners experience the horror of living in a world in which aliens have killed 93 percent of humanity--and are still hunting the remaining survivors. It's an effective tool, and listeners won't guess the ending or major developments, which adds to the pleasure. Brandon Espinoza and Phoebe Strole deliver the novel, with Espinoza taking the chapters narrated by a mystery man and Strole taking those narrated by a young female. As Cassie, a girl searching for her missing brother, Strole is particularly convincing. The emotion in her voice is a stark contrast to the lack of emotion in the voice of her savior. M.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2013]