THE LONG CORNER

Maksik's riveting new novel is disappointingly narrated by James Patrick Cronin. The post-Trump-era story features Solomon Fields, a disillusioned young New Yorker who was raised by a troubled but brilliant mother and a bohemian grandmother who was a Holocaust survivor. When Solomon follows a woman to a tropical artists' colony, Cronin's voice has little inflection despite the panoply of diverse characters. One would expect that the charismatic, increasingly totalitarian leader of the colony would merit a dramatic portrayal, but Cronin provides no drama. Some listeners may prefer a straightforward narration like this. But given the excellence of today's narrators, many listeners will be disappointed. Still, this compelling and forceful novel should find many fans. D.G.L. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]