BRIGHT AND DISTANT SHORES

Dominic Smith creates a remarkable tapestry woven from strands of history, while narrator Greg Lockett turns them into indelible moments for the listener. In 1890s Chicago, Owen Graves, who has always been interested in relics and artifacts, is hired by insurance mogul Hale Gray to go on an expedition to Melanesia--but he must take along Gray's ne'er-do-well son, Jethro. Along with primitive art, Gray wants Owen to bring back natives to exhibit. Lockett subtly reveals Owen's uneasiness at the immorality of such an action. The setting shifts, and Lockett seamlessly depicts the lives of New Guinea native Argus Niu and his sister, Malini. Overall, Lockett offers clear sketches of Chicago, the sea, and the island during this period. Beautifully written and narrated with enthusiasm, this is first-rate historical fiction. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]