BLAME

Hillary Huber's throaty voice and sarcastic undertones convey the character of young college professor Patsy MacLemoore. Patsy careens between brilliant teaching and blurry alcohol binges and blackouts. One night she wakes up in a drunk tank and learns she swooped into her driveway, accidentally killing two Jehovah Witnesses, a mother and daughter. Both narrator and author keep to a solid pace as they trace Patsy's growth during two years of prison—then her release, remorse, redemption, and, much later, a startling revelation. Detailed sensory descriptions of Patsy's life in Altadena Prison make convincing the story’s contrasting realities. Huber's on-target portrayals of minor characters and her snappy rendition of spicy dialogue also contribute to the compelling listening. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2009]