My Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Set during the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, The Levee by William Kent Krueger follows four men who set out on a rowboat amid a storm to save a family trapped in their ancestral home as the waters continue to rise. However, the family in question refuses to leave their home and what was originally a rescue mission turns into a coordinated effort to repair the damaged levee to ensure that the flood waters do not encroach on the property. As the narrative progresses, we get to know more about the men- a former priest and three convicts who have been assigned to service. As they struggle to keep safe from what’s going on outside, it becomes evident that the rising water and the weakening levee are not the only dangers from which they need to shield themselves.
This audio novella clocks at 3 hours and 36 minutes. Though the length of this story does not allow for in-depth character development and of course, the author manages to give each of his characters a distinct voice, and address their complex personalities and motivations. The author does marvelous job in building up the tension and I liked how the story plays out. Though it took a while for me to get into the story, after the 25% mark I found myself completely engrossed in this intense and atmospheric narrative. In his Note at the end of the story, the author shares how reading William Faulkner inspired him to write this story and also shares a few facts about The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
Overall, I did enjoy this audio novella and felt that the narrator J.D. Jackson does a praiseworthy job of voicing the characters and setting the mood for this story. I’ve loved both of William Kent Krueger’s standalone novels ( yet to read the Cork O'Connor series) and while I may not have enjoyed this one as much as Ordinary Grace or This Tender Land, I was happy to have found a new story from this author. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.
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