Hideaway

March 16, 2020
An early trauma shapes the course of a woman’s life in this impactful drama from Roberts (Under Currents). Ten-year-old Cate Sullivan is a fourth generation actor whose famous great-grandfather has recently died. At a celebration of his life, Cate is kidnapped and held for ransom, but she soon escapes to a nearby ranch. Once the police begin investigating, it becomes evident that Cate’s mother planned the kidnapping as a way to make some quick money and is arrested. As Cate grows up, the shadow of what her mother did follows her; until, as a grown woman, she returns home and is reunited with Dillon, the boy whose family owns the ranch Cate escaped to after her kidnapping. But as Cate’s feelings for Dillon develop, she once again becomes the target of threats—which may be linked to the recent release of her mother from prison. The action unfolds quickly, though some threads resolve too neatly and the main twists feel abrupt. Cate, meanwhile, is a gritty and charismatic but often unbelievable protagonist—even as a kid her instincts are perfect. Nonetheless, fans of Roberts’s intense contemporary tales will enjoy this high-stakes love story.

Narrator January LaVoy brings a richly layered performance to a story about a Hollywood kidnapping. At age 10, Caitlyn Sullivan is taken from her family home. She escapes and seeks refuge at a local farm, where she is found by Dillon Cooper. As the story takes Caitlyn and Dillon from childhood to their teen years and to adulthood, LaVoy successfully transitions her voice, adding more maturity at each stage. She expertly handles the large cast of multigenerational characters, using accents ranging from the Irish lilt of Caitlyn's great-grandmother to the Southern drawl of Caitlyn's grandmother. She also captures the strident tones of Caitlyn's mother. Adding an additional level of enjoyment is LaVoy's depiction of Caitlyn's profession: voice actress. How fun! S.B. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine