The Road to Cardinal Valley

Kate Forbes's narration of this audiobook starts off strong as Lucas McGavin, a character from Fowler's previous book, THE SADDLEMAKER'S WIFE, has an amusing encounter with a small child at a diner. However, the listener soon becomes aware that something in the narration is off--the delivery is stilted, with disjointed pauses that distract from the story. As Lucas; his brother's widow, Ruby; and their families take turns telling their stories of loss and tough times, mainly caused by alcoholism, Forbes is sometimes engaged, bringing the characters to life and capturing the range of emotions--from sadness to unexpected humor. But in the next moment, an odd pause causes the emotions to fall flat. The story may be best enjoyed by those familiar with the first book. M.M.G. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

November 19, 2012
Fans of Fowler’s Benni Harper mystery series will welcome this likable sequel to The Saddlemaker’s Wife (2006), which follows troubled but mainly goodhearted characters in Cardinal, Calif., a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Lucas McGavin is restlessly looking for a profession or a woman he can commit to, in particular gentle Ruby McGavin, who’s still hung up on her dead husband, Lucas’s brother. In addition, Ruby is terribly worried about whether Nash, her own younger brother, can stay off liquor and drugs. None of what happens with these characters or the vividly drawn supporting cast is earthshaking, but together the events make up an appealing panorama of ordinary people trying to live up to their best potential—if they can figure out what it might be. Fowler demonstrates that such a story can be religious without being sanctimonious, though outrageous authorial manipulation at the conclusion weakens the effect. Agent: Ellen Geiger, Frances Goldin Literary.