THE PERFECT WORLD OF MIWAKO SUMIDA

Narrators Cindy Kay and David Shih unfold the questions behind a woman's death in this slow-moving mystery with elements of magical realism. Ryusei Yanagi falls head over heels in love with his fellow student, Miwako Sumida, a woman whose life has always been kept under wraps. Persistent as he is, she refuses his advances. Then, Miwako is found dead of suicide, having left no clues as to why she killed herself. Kay and Shih, with their pleasant voices and even pacing, build intrigue around Miwako's final days. But while Kay can deftly switch voices in any gender, Shih's struggles make female characters sound a bit awkward. Still, both narrators satisfy listeners as they shed light on the tragedy. A.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]