BONE FIRE

David Baker's well-paced, understated performance suits this story of hard-working, tender-hearted folks in Ishawooa, Wyoming. Characters include Griff, who drops out of college to care for Einar, who has suffered a stroke; Crane Carlson, who is investigating a dead body found in a meth lab and coping with his diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease; and McEban, who has lost his wife and is now faced with sending his young ward back to his birth father. Baker uses slight changes in cadence to reflect the emotional depth and tensions of the characters as they face their personal challenges. He intensifies the moments of surprise, hilarity, and beauty as he conjures the author’s strong sense of place. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2010]