COMPANY OF LIARS

Karen Maitland's novel, set in medieval England, features a motley cast—including a one-eyed relics dealer, a musician and his apprentice, and a young girl who reads runes—each of whom has something to hide. While much of the writing suffers from clichés and pretensions, the characters are richly drawn, and Maxwell Caulfield gives each one a uniquely magnificent voice, whatever the gender or accent of the speaker. Even minor characters get the full treatment. While the novel will likely interest only fans of historical fantasy, Caulfield's performance transcends the limits of the genre and gives the story an extra dimension. D.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]