SPARRING PARTNERS

Three excellent narrators—Jeff Daniels, Ethan Hawke, and January LaVoy—make this audiobook’s three novellas engrossing. Daniels's low-key, sometimes gravelly, performance in "Homecoming" is perfect for this story about a mostly struggling Mississippi lawyer who assists a friend who stole some money and disappeared, but who now wants to return. Hawke’s work with voices is particularly good in "Strawberry Moon," the story of a death row inmate who is facing his final hours and fading hopes. LaVoy narrates "Sparring Partners," a story of family dysfunction and a law firm in trouble. LaVoy carries the dialogue and narrative portions with the right amount of drama and verve, and is great with both male and female voices. A highly entertaining listen. G.S. 2023 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2022]