Narrated by Elizabeth Louise and Josh Goodman
I was captivated by Burying Water pretty much as soon as I started listening. I’d heard great things about the writing of author K. A. Tucker, but had never experienced it for myself. Now that I have, I’m eager for more. The skilled narration of both Elizabeth Louise and Josh Goodman drew me into the multi-layered plot, making it virtually impossible for me to step away from my iPod.
We see things from the point of view of a young woman who calls herself Water, and twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles, the man who knows the secrets to Water’s true identity. Water’s chapters are told in the present while Jesse’s go back to the beginning of the story, making it difficult to sum up for the purposes of a review. Trust me when I say it works wonderfully.
A young woman is left badly beaten and raped in rural Oregon. No one thinks she’ll survive, but she surprises them all and pulls through. However, her survival comes at the cost of her memory. Not only does she not remember the attack, she has no memory of her past whatsoever. She can’t even tell doctors her name. For months, she answers to Jane Doe, but eventually grows tired of that. Longing for an identity, even if it’s one she creates for herself, she names herself Water for a tattoo she has, which is her only clue to her past.
When the hospital can no longer help her, Water is taken in by Ginny Fitzgerald, an eccentric old woman who lives on a nearby horse farm. Ginny knows what it’s like to be assaulted, and she urges Water to be happy with her new life instead of trying to remember the past. Ginny knows just how detrimental past memories can be, and she wants Water to be free of all that.
Freedom is hard to gain when the guy next door knows all your secrets. Of course, Jesse doesn’t plan to tell Water any of what he knows. He figures the past is gone, and she’ll be safer and happier not knowing. The listener will know all about Water’s past long before Water herself, due to Jesse relaying the events that led up to her attack.
Both Elizabeth Louise and Josh Goodman were new-to-me narrators. I am pleased to say that both are very talented, and I can’t wait to hear more of their work.
Ms. Louise characterized Water perfectly. She was able to give her a young, innocent sound, which fit well with the fact that Water is starting from scratch. She’s discovering her likes and dislikes all over again, and Ms. Louise captures all the emotions that go along with such discoveries perfectly. I didn’t feel like I was listening to Water but rather, it was as though I actually knew her.
Each character is performed distinctly. Ginny sounds old and cranky. Jesse’s mother, who also happens to be Water’s doctor, speaks in a warm, pleasant tone. Jesse’s sister Amber is given a bubbly way of speaking which matches what Ms. Tucker created.
Despite the lightness of her voice, Ms. Louise had no trouble making male characters sound masculine. She lowered her pitch just the slightest bit, and added accents and intonations to make sure the listener always knew who was speaking.
Mr. Goodman is equally adept at character differentiation. His portrayal of Jesse was spot-on. He suggests the femininity of the female characters without allowing his voice to break or crack. Listening to him was pure magic.
My one complaint has to do with the ending of the book. I expected something that seemed more plausible. I’m not a fan of endings being tied up in tidy little bows just for the sake of creating a happy ending. Certain things just seemed a little too convenient for my liking.
There are so many elements of this story that I can’t reveal to you. Believe me when I say that I wish I could. Burying Water is a complex romance, dealing with some serious issues, and exploring what love really means. K. A. Tucker is a very talented author. I urge you to at least pick this book up. I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.
Shannon
Narration: Elizabeth Louise – A Josh Godman – A
Book Content: A-
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: Domestic, fighting
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Burying Water was provided to AudioGals by Simon & Schuster Audio for review.
Ooh, now I’m really tempted. I read Ten Tiny Breaths and enjoyed the style even while the story kind of fell apart from me. I recently enjoyed Four Seconds to Lose (both in print) which had a story which was more appealing to me. I saw this one and wondered what it was about. I think I recall the blurb being too vague. Thx Shannon :)
I have this audiobook and am now excited to listen to the story. Thanks for the review.