PRECIOUS THING

In a psychological thriller, the buildup of suspense is vital. The danger in narrating these novels is the possibility of audible spoilers: A pause or change in inflection can reveal everything too soon. On the other hand, Penelope Rawlins’s performance is a masterful example of how sound can enhance suspense. She delivers an intense but not overly dramatic portrayal of the protagonist, Rachel, that elicits listeners’ sympathy for her plight. Even when the plot goes a bit over the top, Rawlins remains convincing and commanding. However, her portrayal of the male characters is less so. Their dialogue sounds like Rawlins is focusing more on gender than on overall characterization. But given the rare presence of male characters in the story, this weakness detracts minutely from her overall performance. J.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2014]