POISON HEART

A riveting start tempts listeners to enter the world of Pepin County, where folks have lived for generations. Unfortunately, the story slows to a crawl while the listener tries to sort out who's who and where the story is going. Although Joyce Bean delivers a solid narration, she creates little connection with the story's characters. The biggest problem is that there are no pauses between chapters, nor any hint of transition. Abrupt setting shifts leave the listener confused as the story introduces many characters and locales in the first several chapters. This book may be better read in print. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]