Folly Beach: A Lowcountry Tale

In Frank’s latest Lowcountry novel, Cate Cooper is left homeless after the death of her financially reckless husband and finds herself returning to the place of her childhood: South Carolina’s Folly Beach. Cate takes up residence in a small coastal cottage called Porgy House where she must examine her past to move her life forward. Unfortunately, this gentle, literary tale does not translate well to audio. The problem certainly doesn’t lie with narrator Robin Miles, whose rendition of Cate is likable and believable, and who expertly voices the book’s other characters, including Cate’s crotchety but loving aunt, her well-meaning children, and her sassy best friend. The issue is one of pacing. Despite Miles’s best efforts, the book’s momentum slows to a crawl. The story progresses so gradually that listening becomes tedious and hours pass with only minor plot movement. A William Morrow hardcover. (June)