MAUDE HORTON'S GLORIOUS REVENGE

Genevieve Gaunt never disappoints as she delivers the rich tapestry of characters, locales, and motivations in Pook's shipboard thriller. In 1849, Maude's sister, Constance, escaped the stodginess of Victorian England by disguising herself as a boy and signing on to the MAKEPEACE for an Arctic expedition. Two years later, Maude learns that Constance died in "a tragic accident," but after receiving Constance's diary, Maude suspects that expedition scientist Edison Stowe may have been involved. Maude follows in Constance's footsteps, disguising herself as a boy and joining the MAKEPEACE to keep an eye on Stowe. Gaunt's delivery is impeccable as Arctic storms, killing cold, starvation, and disease threaten them all. She makes listeners feel Stowe's pathological connection to bones and Maude's growing terror. Exciting listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2024]