SHADOW OF THE LIONS

In the tradition of Knowles's A SEPARATE PEACE, or perhaps Conroy's THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE, this audiobook explores the microcosm of an elite boarding school—and the conflicts that dwell, in this case, behind the leonine statuary guarding the front gates. James Foster is an authoritative narrator whose authentic and accessible delivery makes this an easy listen. His pacing and rhythms with both dialogue and narrative are outstanding, as are his renditions of both male and female voices. While the novel’s intriguing opening—involving the unsolved mystery of a student's disappearance—is certainly a grabber, it is as much Foster's performance as it is the plot that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2017]