- Author
- Delia Owens
- Narrator
- Cassandra Campbell
- Length
- 12 hr 12 min
- Publisher
- Penguin Audio
Best for: Long walks, and listeners who like a slow burn mystery.
Campbell's accent work is the reason to choose this edition. The North Carolina voices sound lived in rather than performed, and Kya's speech changes subtly as she learns to read and moves into the wider world.
The novel alternates between Kya's childhood and a 1969 murder investigation. Campbell gives the investigation chapters a slightly crisper, more procedural rhythm, so the timeline is easy to follow.
Owens writes long descriptive passages about birds, tides and feathers. They are lovely to listen to while walking but can drift if you are distracted.
The courtroom section in the final hours picks up pace and is hard to stop.
What we loved
- ✓Authentic, gentle dialect work
- ✓Two timelines clearly separated
- ✓Atmospheric and immersive
Worth knowing
- –Nature passages can drift
- –Ending divides listeners
The verdict
An atmospheric recording that makes the setting feel like a character.
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