The Owl Service

When Alison hears noises in the attic and discovers a set of old dishes decorated with owls, she sets in motion fantastic events that bind her to her new stepbrother, Roger, and bring anguish to her new friend, Gwyn. Wayne Forester's accents are the perfect vehicle for interpreting this tale rooted in the ancient myths of Wales. The conflicts between the local folk who have lived and worked here for generations and the incoming British owners on holiday are apparent. Forester excels at individualizing the Welsh villagers who comment on the story's events like a Greek chorus. This enigmatic novel leaves many questions unanswered, but the extensive liner notes provide helpful background, supplying a short summary of the relevant myths and information about the author. R.H.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine