The Vatican’s Exorcists

Opening with her firsthand account of an exorcism, Wilkinson delves into the spiritual world of good versus evil in an earthly sense. Through interviews with church-appointed exorcists, past and presently possessed people and a slew of others (from psychologists to Satan worshipers), she looks at the contemporary world of demonic possession. At a time when genetics is providing ample explanations about “human nature,” Wilkinson wonders why the number of exorcists has drastically increased over the past 15 years. She also explores the church’s ambivalence about exorcism and the balancing acts exorcists walk. Frasier proves a compelling narrator: her soft, smooth voice reveals compassion and curiosity as the mysteries of the book are revealed. Particularly during the exorcisms, Frasier provides distinct voices and personalities to delineate the exorcist and the possessed person, paying particular attention to the demonic voices and the actual voice of the possessed. Her other impressive feat is her masculine voice that differs significantly from her narrative voice. With all of the people quoted within the book, this distinction helps listeners follow the text better. Simultaneous release with the Warner hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 11). (Mar.)