RED RIVER

The 1873 Colfax Riot in Louisiana is the focal point of Tademy’s absorbing story of two emancipated slave families. That the author is descended from the people depicted lends an authenticity that few historical novels enjoy. Reader Bahni Turpin’s soft bayou-country drawl smoothly handles the transitions of this absorbing chronicle. Her deft touch for voices and accents adroitly guides listeners among characters of differing ages, races, and genders. She demonstrates a dramatic range that is equal to the narrative’s graphic accounts of battle as well as to its subtle personal scenes. The only distraction from an otherwise enjoyable audio experience is that the discs end abruptly, with no auditory cues. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 07]