THE RIGHT HAND OF EVIL

The Devil himself lives in the basement of the Conway family mansion in St. Albans, Louisiana, and collects his “rent”--the first male born to each generation. Ted and Janet Conway didn’t read the lease before they moved in, much to their misfortune. Lee Meriweather brings energy and involvement to the story, but her characterizations are uneven. She gives the females intelligence and depth, but many of the males suffer from an over-stylized Southern dialect. One can overlook this in the few minor characters, but it doesn’t work for the Conways’ son, Jared, or the town mayor. Further, the depiction of the priests fails to convey the power suggested by the text. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 00]