HEARTS AND BONES

HEARTS AND BONES is a wonderful piece of storytelling by an author of too little acclaim. You'll want to lay hands on the rest of this series immediately. Lawrence takes you into rural Maine of 1786 through the voice of Hannah, the town midwife. There is terrible damage left behind when the British soldiers go home, and vengeance is still being felt for battles long over. Lawrence creates a wonderful sense of time and place with little domestic scenes that bring this period piece marvelously alive. Narrator Laurel Lefkow succeeds in evoking a woman who is strong despite the social strictures she must live by. With varied accents Lefkow portrays fully realized characters. In addition, she creates a mood of quiet madness simmering just below the surface, rendering each character without foreshadowing and keeping you guessing to the end. A superb combination of writing and presentation. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/ JAN 02]