TOUCHSTONE

Laurie King captures the relative innocence and idealism of the period between the two World Wars. This is a sprawling novel, set in America and England, that offers action, intrigue, history, mystery, mysticism, and romance. All of these are superbly presented by Jefferson Mays. One of Mays's strongest attributes is his ability to portray both British and American characters—his accents for both are accurate and convincing. Mays's comfortable, crisp voice is easy to listen to, a quality that is a decided advantage in a long production such as this. King's riveting novel and Mays's excellent narration combine to give the listener a totally satisfying experience. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]