KISS ME FIRST

Leila is an introverted 20-something who participates in an Internet forum called Red Pill, where people chat about ethical issues, including assisted suicide. Enter Adrian Dervish, owner of Red Pill, who asks Leila to help Tess, who is bipolar, to commit suicide by taking over her identity. Imogen Church uses an appropriate flat tone to narrate the story of these emotionally disengaged characters. In a minimally inflected performance she recounts Leila's activities as she goes about acquainting herself with Tess, activities that are chillingly close to stalking. Overall, Church ably performs this disturbing story of assisted suicide, identity theft, and the lives of those who are addicted to the Web. But despite her strong performance, Church cannot engage listeners in an off-putting story. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]