A HALL OF KEYS AND NO DOORS

Amber Benson's ardent performance brings out the heartbreak and mystery in this story centering on themes of family, grief, and hope. Benson provides a myriad of voices to portray the characters with consistency and effectiveness, especially the contemplative voice of Ella and the croaky, self-confidence of Aunt Eunice. Most impactful is Benson's deliberate pacing, which conveys Ella's heavy heart as she mourns the deaths of her beloved grandmother and her twin brother. This unhurried pacing, together with the intensity of her reading, also efficiently conveys the mysterious powers of the keys that do not unlock any doors but somehow influence events in Ella's life. Some inconsistencies in volume are minor distractions in this heartfelt delivery of an intriguing story. M.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2017]