19 May / The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk [in Booklist]
*STARRED REVIEW
Actor Hannah Cabell’s stage training clearly gives her a stupendous boost in the recording studio; with a mere dozen credits, she’s already superb – and proves herself an ideal audio enabler for Toronto librarian Eva Jurczyk’s novel debut. Liesl Weiss’ boss, Christopher, is lying in a coma, forcing Liesl into the limelight as the acting director of Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at an unnamed university. The library’s latest, most significant, acquisition is discovered missing from the safe just when it needs to be displayed to high-profile donors – setting in motion a multilayered whodunit, howdunit, and whydunit.
Cabell imbues Liesl with impressive full range, effortlessly adapting to the different ways she interacts with co-workers, the administration, the police, and her husband. No less indelible are Cabell’s supporting-cast characterizations, including anxious co-worker Miriam, (still-)Eton-accented colleague Francis, contentious employee Dan, smug university president Garber, and Christopher’s long-suffering wife, Marie. Cabell is also deliciously deft voicing curious caller Rhonda – the raised eyebrow seems to burst through the recording. She’s also undoubtedly enjoying the president’s secretary’s short conversations, instantly imparting (well-deserved, ahem) disdain.
Jurczyk’s narrative skews perhaps a wee bit long – and, perhaps, mystery-savvy audiences might figure out whodunit sooner rather than later – but Cabell guarantees enlightening entertainment to the very satisfying end.
Review: “Media,” Booklist, May 1, 2022
Readers: Adult
Published: 2022