NIGHT WATCH

Good performances abound in this audiobook. At its heart is ConaLee, a child swept up in the cruelty and uncertainty of the antebellum South. Karissa Vacker, the primary narrator, is a strong voice throughout the production. Similarly, Theo Stockman's performance of male points of view and Maggi-Meg Reed's renditions of the female characters are well paced and emotionally charged. ConaLee's little family is shattered by wartime violence, and the best moments in the audiobook are centered around the interactions among characters. Episodes unfold in a tangled order, and it takes a patient listener to follow along. Some sections languish due to stilted language and belabored points, but the story is largely engrossing, and, all in all, the narrators do a fine job with the material. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]