INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE

As the unrelenting heatwave of 1976 frays everyone's nerves, Robert Riordan leaves home one morning and seemingly disappears. When his wife of 40 years calls their grown children home to help find him, each returns harboring a secret and long-held resentments. Narrator John Lee's lyrical cadence sets the mood for this affecting story of cultural expectations and family relationships. Lee adapts his pacing, energy, and native British accent (tinged with an Irish lilt) to fit each character—from the Galway-native parents to their London-born children—helping listeners understand their different personalities. While the Riordans search for Robert and personal crises heat up, Lee subtly increases the emotional tension—until everything boils over, forcing the family to face their truths. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]