EVERYTHING TO GAIN

Mallory Keswick's husband, Andrew, their 5-year-old twins, and her dog are killed in a senseless act of random violence. Kate Mulgrew narrates the story of Mallory's overwhelming loss in a refined manner, her voice quaking with devastation and tears. Her sense of grief and guilt are deftly portrayed. The twins are wonderfully characterized in flashbacks as charming children filled with mischief. When Mallory finds seventeenth-century diaries at Pilgrim's Glen, Andrew's family home, they provide a renewed interest in life that leads to a satisfying ending. Although well done, this audio love story is flawed by a disconcerting echo, meant to enhance the flashbacks. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]