Listening Still

Irish writer Griffin (When All Is Said) follows in her frustrating latest a young woman who can talk to the recently dead. Jeanie Masterson grows up in the small town of Kilcross, where her funeral director father, David, has earned a reputation for sharing the last wishes of the dead. David teaches her the tricks of their trade, and she marries Niall, a childhood friend, seeming content with the plan to one day take over the family business. But when her parents announce their retirement, she questions her life choices. Jeanie reflects on her first love and her regret for not moving to London with him, the weight of her gift for clairvoyancy, her fear of having children, and her struggle to save her failing marriage. When she suffers a devastating loss, Jeanie leaves Ireland to visit a friend in Oslo, where she seems on her way to find some peace until she learns a dark secret about her family. The author does a good job building out the central premise (“not all wanted to talk or, as Dad said over the years that followed, needed to,” Jeanie narrates, explaining why she only hears from some of the dead), but often gets mired in flat prose and unconvincing romantic subplots. Griffin’s fans will appreciate this, but others can take a pass. (Mar.)