PERFECTLY NICE NEIGHBORS

Tania Rodrigues's elegant diction and smooth, honeyed tones act as a perfect counterpoint to this disturbing look at the underlying racism found in even the most seemingly peaceful neighborhoods. Days after a Bangladeshi family, Salma, Bilal, and their son, Zain, move into their new home in a quiet London suburb, Salma sees her neighbor Tom knock over the "Black Lives Matter" sign Zain put on their lawn. Things escalate from that act to nightmarish confrontations and tragedy. Rodrigues maintains an objective distance while delivering the full strength of the vitriol and animosity that flare up among neighbors. She creates real people dealing with deeply rooted prejudices and the irrational fear of anything different. Kia Abdullah's prose is remarkably honest and perceptive, while Rodrigues's understated performance captures every nuance. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2023]