SWEET TOOTH

Ian McEwan uses the classic spy novel plot to examine the career of the lovely and brilliant Serena Frome. Narrator Juliet Stevenson's crisp, cool tone matches the author's descriptions of Serena's evolution in the murky world of espionage. McEwan's exploration of the existential angst of living a shadow life, necessary for spies and their targets, is engaging and ultimately heartbreaking. Serena's assignment, to infiltrate the literary circle of her subject, Tom Healy, gives readers insight into both writers and the nature of the writing life. Stevenson portrays Serena with subtle emotion and deliberate pacing, allowing the events of her life to elicit the listener's responses. R.O. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2012]