The Serpent's Tale

February 25, 2008
Franklin reintroduces the second coming of Adelia Aguilar, a character who first appeared in Mistress of the Art of Death
. Kate Reading captures her brilliantly through a wonderful and eerie reading. She has a voice made for narration; steady and firm in her pitch-perfect delivery, she draws upon the foggy atmosphere created by Franklin and sets the tone vividly with her classical British accent. Reading has such a firm understanding of the story that each word becomes as crucial as the last, creating a dramatic entertainment for the listener. Her characters, including the evil Queen Eleanor, a distressed King Henry II and of course Aguilar herself, are all well-rounded, with Reading perfecting a variety of gritty dialects to fit accordingly. Reading has a knack for this genre of story; with an inherent ability to captivate her audience from start to finish. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 12).

Uniqueness of character and writing deserves Kate Reading's outstanding narration. Her well-paced, robust delivery takes us to the period of King Henry II at a time when his mistress has died and his estranged wife, Queen Eleanor, is suspect. Enter Adelia, sleuth, forensic specialist, and new mother. Reading gives Adelia the perfect portrait--her inquisitive and feisty confidence is layered with the tenderness of motherhood. Reading shifts easily to describe Adelia's faithful Muslim servant as well as her cocky, ribald lover--the father of her child--Bishop Rowley Picot. Minor characters are just as vivid. Reading succeeds at a formidable task: crossing genres of history, mystery, and politics; vividly transporting us to a foreign time and place; and credibly portraying Adelia's inner battles between feminism and passion. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine