THE LAST SUMMER OF THE CAMPERDOWNS

Rebecca Gibel has her work cut out for her in performing this novel, whose characters lack verisimilitude, to put it mildly. In Kelly’s world even people with “no money” have oceanfront Cape Cod estates with multiple horses in the stable. The plot hangs on a frightening secret a 12-year-old girl named Riddle is keeping for reasons the author doesn’t begin to make convincing. On the other hand, Kelly’s prose is snappy and aggressively clever, and she keeps the gothic plot moving at a good clip. Gibel gamely performs and even succeeds in giving some emotional cohesion to several minor characters. My favorite is Gin, the selfish, gossipy horse-obsessed bachelor neighbor whom she plays with a slight drawl and a tiny speech defect. Gibel has a lovely voice and may make the listen worth your while. B.G. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]