Southern Discomfort

Narrator C.J. Critt gives Judge Deborah Knott her own brand of sass, intelligence, and Southern charm. Knott's down-to-earth attitude is exemplified in her dealings in district court and in her personal life in small-town North Carolina. Critt uses lighter tones to portray Knott's friendly day-to-day interactions and employs darker tones for her dealings with offenders, including the murderer of a local building inspector and the man who raped her teenaged niece. Effortlessly Critt switches among a host of mostly likable characters, young and old, male and female. Her delivery of the descriptions of the story's rural setting is enthusiastic. Perfect timing adds to this refreshing listening experience. S.C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine