THE KILL Rougon-Macquart, Book 2

Zola seems equally focused on all forms of corruption in Second Empire France--financial, political, and sexual. So it's fitting that narrator Leighton Pugh applies a high level of emotional intensity to this tawdry drama. The novel ranges from near incestuous lovemaking in a literal hothouse to the intricate details of women's gowns, styles of architecture, and real estate deals. "The kill"--literally, the portion of game that is thrown to the dogs--is the fate of at least one character. So it's fitting that Pugh's tone mingles compassion with disdain and cynicism. If the novel's details occasionally grow tiresome, Pugh does not. His sometimes gravelly, sometimes melodic voice; energetic but natural pacing; and ability to imbue the text with feeling convey the story admirably. W.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]