EDEN, OHIO

A town created by runaway slaves in the mid-nineteenth century remains inhabited by generations of their descendents. However, will past sins lead to the town's demise in the twenty-first century? Caroline Clay's husky voice sets the perfect tone for this gothic tale. She easily slides from the dialect of the slave traders to the contemporary speech of their troubled great-grandchildren. Clay manages to give each character a distinctive voice so that, no matter how rapid the exchange of dialogue, we never lose an individual in the fray. Most importantly, she never makes this audiobook a showcase for her narrative talents, but gives a true ensemble performance. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]