THE MERE WIFE

Susan Bennett masterfully narrates a stunning retelling of BEOWULF that confronts all manner of monsters. Dana Mills went away to war and came back with a son she has to keep safe from everything; Willa Herot lives at Herot Hall with a son who has been given everything. Bennett portrays a wide cast of characters, including both Dana and Willa, and does a particularly good job teasing out the nuances in the rage that propels both women to the inevitable bloody climax. Dana’s rage is jagged and immediate and laced with fear, but Willa’s rage is cold and buried deep within her, and all the more terrifying when it’s finally let loose. Powerful, upsetting, and unforgettable, Bennett’s narration is staggeringly potent. K.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2018]