MADAME BADOBEDAH

Sophie Dahl is wonderful in writing and narrating this enchanting story. When the enigmatic Madame Badobedah arrives at the Mermaid Hotel with her unfamiliar accent and mass of unusual belongings, Mabel, the hotel owners' daughter, is intrigued. Piano music and sound effects heighten a cheerfully mysterious mood. Certain that Madame Badobedah is an international jewel thief, the audacious Mabel investigates, the music of a soft triangle accompanying her tiptoed quest. Audible details pepper the story--wailing sirens, crashing waves, muttering parents, crinkling toffee wrappers. Mabel's accent is British, her humor is dry, and her likability is one hundred percent. She spends increasing hours with the cagey lodger to uncover Madame Badobedah's secrets and share a few of her own. An impressive production--fun! L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2020 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019]