THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller delivers a riveting performance of Estes's ambitious debut novel. Zeller portrays the two central women, Mei Lien, who lives in Seattle in 1886, at the time of the anti-Chinese purges, and Inara Erikson, who lives in present-day Seattle. An eccentric aunt leaves Inara the family property on Orcas Island, hoping it will be made into a bed-and-breakfast. Zeller is convincing as Inara discovers a mysterious package in the old house. The bundle contains an elaborately embroidered sleeve, which seems to tell a story. Although a series of coincidences and contrived events weakens an otherwise fascinating tale, from the first tense moments of the prologue to the stunning conclusion, Zeller's narration weaves a spell almost as intriguing as the sleeve's mysterious design. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2015]