In Malice, Quite Close

Secrets from the art world collide with family mysteries when young Nicola discovers a hidden collection of disturbing portraits in her affluent Washington town home. The paintings reveal troubling connections between her reclusive mother Gisele and the wealthy collector Tristan Mourault, whose obsession with beauty masks a dangerous past. When Amanda Miller arrives in Devon investigating her sister's disappearance from decades earlier, the carefully maintained facade of this insular community begins to fracture, exposing a web of manipulation, false identities, and buried crimes that threaten to destroy multiple generations.

Michael Kramer's masterful narration elevates this psychological thriller through his nuanced portrayal of each character's hidden depths and moral complexities. His measured delivery builds tension gradually while maintaining the story's literary sophistication, allowing listeners to absorb the intricate plot revelations at precisely the right pace. Kramer's vocal range captures both the opulent world of high-end art collecting and the intimate family dynamics with equal authenticity. The audio format proves particularly effective for this layered narrative, as Kramer's performance guides listeners through the novel's shifting perspectives and timeline with clarity and compelling dramatic intensity.