Hindsight

By: Ronald Kelly

Narrated by: Jennifer Nittoso

Includes the bonus novella Potter's Field.

Sight unseen

Little Cindy Ann knew things no one else knew and saw things no one else saw. Ever since she'd nearly died of fever, the gift of second sight had been hers. Only, it didn't seem like such a gift when the other children called her a witch and wouldn't play with her. Or, when her visions resembled nothing so much as her worst nightmares.

Death undying

Then, her older brother disappeared in the vicinity of the old tobacco barn. And Cindy's visions began to burn with a bloodthirsty relentless hatred. What horrors lay buried in the cold earth of the barn? And how could one innocent little girl hope to fight the terrifying evil - an evil that had taken her brother and that would now turn on the only witness to its monstrous, merciless crimes: Cindy herself.

©1990 Ronald Kelly (P)2020 David N. Wilson

This may be my favorite Kelly novel!

Story – 5/5
Narration – 5+/5

“Hindsight” by Ronald Kelly is a coming-of-age, paranormal thriller that centers on a little girl with psychic abilities.

This is the first non-horror story that I’ve read from this author, and guess what; this may be the best one yet. His writing is the kind that gives the phrase “it felt like going home, again” its meaning. It’s writing the way writing used to be.

The narration is absolutely perfect, in this one. The reader has a delightful accent that helps bring out the story's Southern flavor. Her voice has a little bit of a story-book quality that perfectly suits the main character’s persona. Excellent choice!

Recommendation – emphatically Yes!

Magic

This audiobook is magic, I will attempt to review it but I'm not sure how to convey magic second hand. A rustic rural supernatural thriller about a girl with strange visions (that sounds route but it's brilliantly magical). We follow a case of murder but Hindsight does well at keeping itself varied with elements of thriller, legal drama, coming of age, and other pieces – the plot feels like it’s about more than just one event and the novel gives itself room to breath (and it's infused with magic). Narrator Jennifer Nittoso has a smooth southern sounding delivery here and I think I am in love; she is perfect for the material and well elevates it in audiobook format – her delivery is nuanced and immersive with nice inflection. The mix of narration and content helps keeps us steeped in this world of impoverished Depression era tobacco farmers and moonshine bootleggers with a rich mood that is maybe better than the plot alone. Audible misses labelling it as a sequel but I’m looking forward to checking out Restless Shadows (set 70 years later in the same world). Magic.