THE SHADOW CATCHER

THE SHADOW CATCHER tells interlocking stories of absent fathers. Famous for his sepia-toned photographs of Indians, Edward S. Curtis would leave his wife, Clara, to fend for herself for months at a time. Juxtaposed with this historical narrative is a contemporary one featuring Marianne Wiggins. She is mystified by a phone call from a hospital in Las Vegas telling her that her father is dying--because he committed suicide 30 years ago. Bernadette Dunne is a superb narrator for this enigmatic novel. She clearly separates the different pieces of the novel, making Wiggins funny and wry, and Clara ambitious but long-suffering, an educated Midwesterner relocated to the pioneer West. Dunne is also expert at voicing accents without resorting to stereotypes, creating authentic Native American and Mexican characters. A.B. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]