BLOOD VINES

The opening scene begins with doctoral student Alexandra Clarkson having a scary flashback. Orlagh Cassidy hooks listeners as she reflects the heroine's anxiety and her typical response—pushing the images aside and moving on. As the story proceeds, Alex's secretive mother is found dead, her haunting images increase, and she learns she has a family and a history that have been hidden from her for 25 years. Cassidy convinces us of Alex's increasing confusion and desperation to understand her past. Likewise, Cassidy makes credible the heroine’s discovery that she’s the stepdaughter of a prominent Sonoma vintner as well as her romantic involvement with police detective Daniel Reed. Cassidy's narration mirrors the emotions of the main character so well that listeners become solidly engaged with her story. S.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2010]