THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV

This engaging audiobook is narrated with energy and style. The debut novel, a well-imagined take on the music scene of the 1970s, is packed with insights on the time and the real inequities that existed for Black performers. Janina Edwards, who plays S. Sunny Curtis, the central character, is convincing, thoughtful, and measured. Both Bahni Turpin (Opal) and James Langston (Nev) give their idiosyncratic '70s rockers nuanced portrayals. Gabra Zackman and Dennis Boutsikaris enliven the proceedings with well-delivered New York accents. The plot concerns a drug-addled Brit, Nev, and a bald African-American diva from Detroit, Opal. The story hinges on a horrific concert during which Sunny's father, a drummer, was murdered in a racist brawl. Despite that, it is often laugh-out-loud funny--a grand listening experience. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2022 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2022]