THE WHISKEY REBELS

The audio presentation of this sprawling historical novel would have been more successful if it had followed the print version and offered two distinct narrative voices. The story follows Ethan Saunders, a former spy for General Washington, in the period after the Revolutionary War, when he is suspected of treason. Narrator Christopher Lane gives personalities to a wide cast of characters. The difficulty that challenges even Lane's skills is that the story is told in alternating chapters by two protagonists, one male, one female. As Lane narrates, the male character, Saunders, is immediately recognizable. However, it’s not as apparent when the female lead, Joan Maycott, has taken over the story. In spite of Lane's excellent performance, this is one instance when two narrators would have increased the listener's enjoyment of an intriguing look at American history. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2009]