THIRST FOR SALT

Australian author and musician Madelaine Lucas gives a haunting narration of this debut audiobook on love, loss, and memory. The story is told from the perspective of a 37-year-old unnamed woman who is looking back on an intense romance she had with Jude, an older artist, when she was a 24-year-old aspiring writer. Lucas's pensive tone and leisurely pacing perfectly suit the wistful tenor of this meditative novel. Her melodic voice is inviting, and her lovely accent helps establish the Australian seaside setting. Her decision not to create distinct voices for Jude, the woman's mother or friends, or Jude's neighbor, Maeve, feels true to the first-person point of view. This exquisitely detailed and satisfyingly told story will resonate with a wide audience. M.J. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]