HOT WAX

Helen Laser gives a satisfying performance of a story that seems like the two sides of a vinyl album. On side A, it's the summer of 1989. Ten-year-old Suzanne joins her rocker father on tour with his band. The tour ends with a shocking event. On the B side, Suzanne is 30 years older, married to Rob, and living a quiet suburban life--until she decides to hit the road to learn what happened to her father all those years ago. Rob, who is angered by her sudden departure, becomes a mounting threat as he pursues her. Laser effectively conveys the nostalgia of the 1980s malls and record stores that make up young Suzanne's world while also capturing the tension of complicated family dynamics. S.P.C. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2025]