THE MIDNIGHT NEWS

Like so many Londoners in 1940, Charlotte is experiencing exhaustion and trauma from nightly bombings by the Nazis and the deaths of people she cares about. Four of her recently killed friends still exist in her consciousness, comforting, criticizing, advising, and even amusing her on occasion. Narrator Katherine Manners gives each a clear identity. El, Charlotte's best friend, has a sweet, bemused voice. Charlotte's co-worker sounds chatty and oddly liberated. Charlotte's actress friend is suitably theatrical, and her godmother shows the signs of a life of dissipation. The story is slow initially, but then Charlotte begins to experience threats that are even more terrifying than the bombings. This is a beautifully told story of love, loss, courage, and resilience. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]