THE HIRED MAN

A brooding novel deserves a dramatic voice, and Mark Leadbetter is a solid choice for this postwar novel full of mysteries. His steady, confident, masculine narration supports the persona of the strong male character who tells the story of outsiders who make their home in Croatia for the summer. Leadbetter's pronunciation is crisp, easy on the ear, and melodic. At times his delivery is evocative of prose poetry as he moves through the vivid descriptions, alternating between emphatic moments and soft tones. The overall effect is engaging, drawing the listener into this dark, suspenseful story of a town's secrets and inability to deal with an unsettling past. The listener will find much to enjoy in this latest title by a prize-winning writer. M.R. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2014]