The Inventor's Secret

Leslie Bellair narrates Cremer's story of an alternative America, a steampunk land that lost the Revolutionary War and suffers as an oppressed British territory. Bellair's lilting voice suits the character of 16-year-old Charlotte, who lives in hiding as a member of the American resistance movement. In the dialogue, Bellair captures Charlotte's concern for her new friend, Grave, and the earnest hopes of both young people as they journey to the city to discover Grave's identity. In the narrative, however, Bellair's delivery is clipped and brisk, creating an overly perky effect that might have been softened by more fluid phrasing. Cremer's inventive mechanical creatures and sympathetic characters help smooth the stiff presentation. Curiosity about Charlotte's suitors and Grave's past will keep listeners attentive--as will the cliff-hanger ending, which promises future installments. C.A. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine