THE SOLITARY ENVOY

Holding her dying father in her arms, Erica Langston, daughter of a well-to-do merchant, watches their family business burn as the British march on Washington in 1812. Narrator Amiee Lily captures the spirit of those turbulent times. The pacing is tight, the story laden with emotion and romance as Erica travels to Britain to collect gold held unjustly by the British Crown after the invasion. Lily switches from American to British upper and lower-class accents with deft skill. Although expertly narrated, the setting is 1812, when women didn’t have the rights Erica takes for granted in her travels. This anachronism detracts from the story. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 05]