THE SUN WALKS DOWN

Emma Jones narrates this realistic novel, which begins when a 6-year-old boy disappears in a dust storm in colonial Australia. After Denny Wallace goes missing, everyone from the boy's family to people from far-flung stations joins the search. Listeners learn as much about the searchers and their inner lives as they do about the missing child. Each person--including farmers, cameleers, policemen, Indigenous trackers, and more--is examined with precision and telling details. In a low-key tone, Jones attempts to convey the characters' similarities and differences, but her voice is too matter-of-fact to infuse them with life. McFarlane's novel builds a credible plot with authentic motives, but, sadly, Jones's narration misses the mark on the intensity, despair, and hope of its numerous characters. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]