THE LAST DAYS OF THE MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS

Helen Laser brings a crisp no-nonsense timbre to the lush, narcissistic world of celebrities that ghostwriter Mari Hawthorn must navigate to survive in Palm Springs. Mari gets her big break when she's hired to write notorious model Anke Berben's memoir. Laser makes her excitement and trepidation palpable with a well-chosen combination of hushed tones and even diction. Anke is the widow of Mal, lead singer and founder of the fictional band The Midnight Ramblers, whose death in 1969 remains shrouded in speculation. Laser gives Anke a convincing German accent and a cordial yet distant tone embodying the precarious relationship between her and Mari. The text itself becomes overly ruminative in places, but Laser's expert pacing and phrasing maintain the listener's interest. E.E. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]