HOLDING

Reading his own fiction debut, Graham Norton invites listeners to experience the sleepy Irish town of Dundeen--it residents' hardships and grudges as well as their unbreakable family bonds and devotion. Norton throws in a murder investigation, but that takes a back seat to the engaging relationships intertwined in a complex web of life. Norton's performance is as endearing as the characters. He plumbs each individual with subtle changes in tone, cadence, and pitch, presenting their full dimensions, leaving no closed doors to hide behind. He keeps the pace leisurely, allowing listeners to savor every minute. Sweet and heartbreaking, funny and insightful, all delivered with a penetrating narration. HOLDING'S a winner. J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2018]