A Grip of Time

Both author and narrator deliver high-quality work in this audiobook. Kessler is journalist and teacher who went inside Oregon State Penitentiary to teach writing to men serving life terms for murder. Narrator Hollis McCarthy does a good job portraying both the teacher and the inmates. She conveys empathy for the men while evoking deep sympathy for their victims, both the dead and their loved ones. The audiobook is not entirely grim. There are moments of humor and joy. There are also boredom, frustration, and grief--most of the men are haunted by their crimes. McCarthy's performance avoids the pitfalls of being overly censorious of or pitying toward the inmates. This is a very good, clear-eyed audiobook. G.S. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine