THE NIGHT VILLA

Sophie Chase, the feisty and intelligent professor at the heart of this historical mystery, is aptly portrayed in Susanna Burney's lively narration. Chase is rendered as both admirable and likable despite her sometimes acidic inner monologue. Two unlikely settings are juxtaposed—a college campus in Texas and an island in the Mediterranean—and demand a narrator with a broad repertoire. The story moves not only between continents, but also between two parallel casts of characters, the first in modern times, the second in ancient Italy at the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Burney manages to keep up, fleshing out characters with accents, inflections, and pacing to help the listener maintain coherence throughout the complicated plot and lengthy chapters. M.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]