LONG LANKIN

Narrator Anne Flosnik does not disappoint in this dark debut novel that might best be enjoyed with the lights on and the windows locked. When Cora and her little sister, Mimi, are sent to live with their eccentric Auntie Ida, they accidentally awaken an ancient evil that has haunted her rural town for generations. Flosnik is as adept at portraying the innocent squeals of 4-year-old Mimi as she is at the scratchy, hardened voice of Auntie Ida. Narrating in alternating voices, Flosnik's subtle adjustments to both accent and tone allow the listener to know exactly who is speaking. Her breathless pace leads to a chilling conclusion that's as loud and as horrifying as Long Lankin himself. M.D. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2013]