A STUDY IN DROWNING

Saskia Maarleveld's brisk narration sweeps listeners into an atmospheric setting that blends fantasy and reality. Maarleveld portrays the dissatisfaction and resentment of literature-loving Effy Sayre, whose gender is holding her back at architecture school. Maarleveld shows Effy's pride and passion when she's selected to design a manor home honoring her favorite writer, who has recently died. Arriving at the remote crumbling estate, she is filled with regret and fear. Her feelings worsen when the malevolent Fairy King appears. Maarleveld animates all the characters, whether human or fairy. Most notable is her portrayal of Effy's caring fellow student, Preston, who partners with her in a literature project involving mysteries about the past. Maarleveld builds their attraction as it blossoms into romance. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2023]