THE FORGOTTEN SEAMSTRESS

Anne Flosnik narrates this dual-time-period novel, which focuses on two characters: a young woman who works in the sewing room of the royal household of King George V and a modern-day woman who discovers a beautiful and somewhat mysterious quilt in her mother's attic. Although Flosnik is generally a top-notch narrator, her performance here seems forced, her voice somewhat affected. As a result, the listener is repeatedly pulled out of the story. This disconnect with the plot is jarring because Trenow's story is quite emotional with its themes of love and loss, motherhood, and the abuse of power. It's an intensely engaging book, but its narration disappoints. J.L.K. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2014]