FOREIGN BODIES

It’s Paris, 1952, and Bea Nightingale has been enlisted by her insufferable brother to find his 20-something son, Julian, who has disappeared in the city. Julian’s sister is also involved. And then things get complicated. The author uses a Henry James novel as a springboard for the story and then dives into a whole new pool. Tandy Cronyn does an outstanding job narrating this multilayered novel, using her nasal-tinged tone, which is scratchy but compelling. At times, her voice sounds classically trained and proper, qualities that perfectly evoke the ambiance of the early 1950s. At other times, her voice is remarkably supple, particularly when she depicts characters and describes the Parisian scenery. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2011]