POLAR VORTEX

Both Sharon Lewis and Iris Quinn offer subdued performances in this deliberate audiobook. Its pace and plot are so flat and single focused that both narrators' quiet readings become too quiet, too slow. A story about relationships, deception, and long-held secrets, the audiobook remains sedate, defying the typical treatment of such plot devices. Lewis and Quinn each take the narrative of one main character. Their voices stay true to the story, and that is a mixed blessing. Devoted listeners may find the leisurely pace and limited plotline engaging and will be able to enjoy each performer's meticulous reading, while the casual listener may turn to something more lively. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]