THE LANTERN

Les Genévriers, a family manor house in Provence, has held tight to its secrets. Only after it has fallen into disrepair does the house reveal clues to two women: Bénédicte, who was born and died there, and Eve, whose lover, Dom, later buys the property. Gerrianne Raphael's convincing French accent and slightly gravelly voice add authenticity to the elderly Bénédicte's memories of love and betrayal. Kristine Ryan narrates Eve's chapters in a younger, less-accented voice that's tinged with Eve's growing suspicions about the fate of Dom's ex-wife. Although separated by time, Bénédicte's and Eve's lives become unexpectedly tangled as the dark mysteries of the house surface and past inhabitants demand to be heard. Both Raphael and Ryan skillfully build the tension as the two stories converge. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2011]