Silver Alert

De: Lee Smith

Narrado por: Caitlin Davies

This funny and endearing novel of family, secrets, and aging follows an elderly man who heads off on a joyride with a new young friend—who may have some secrets of her own.

A driving force in literature, the one and only Lee Smith returns with a road trip novel, a story full of hope and humor about not going away quietly—at any age.

Aging Herb’s charmed life with his dear wife, Susan, in their Key West house is coming undone. Susan now needs constant care, and Herb is in denial about his own ailing health. The one bright spot is the arrival of an endlessly optimistic manicurist calling herself Renee. She sings to Susan during manicures, gets her to paint, and brings her a sense of contentment.

But then Herb and Susan’s adult children arrive to stage an intervention on their stubborn, independent father, and as a consequence, Renee’s gig with Susan—and her grand plans for her own life—start to unravel as well. So much had seemed as if it could change for Renee, who is not the happy, uncomplicated young girl she pretends to be. She is actually named Dee Dee, and she’s fleeing a dark past.

And Herb can’t just let go of all that he has ever had. So, he suggests one last joy ride in his Porsche. And the two take off north out of Key West, soon setting off a Silver Alert. As the unlikely friendship between Herb and Dee Dee deepens, we see how as one life is closing down, another opens up.

In this buoyant novel, the masterful Smith asks: What do we deserve? And how do we make it our own? Sometimes, you just have to seize the wheel.

Fans of Smith’s many books in her storied, bestselling career won’t want to miss her newest novel. And listeners of novels like Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes will adore Silver Alert.

©2023 Lee Smith (P)2023 Algonquin Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Silver Alert is Lee Smith at the top of her game, and that is a high bar indeed. It’s brilliantly paced with some of the most energetic prose I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The characters of Herb Atlas and Dee Dee are a pair for the ages, who you will long remember after the fall of the last page.”—David Baldacci, author of Dream Town

"There are many ways to read Lee Smith’s excellent new novel Silver Alert, but I view it as the toll old age has taken on her characters, with all its indignities and absurdities, as well as a wry view of America itself. Staged in iconic Key West, the improviser’s Paradise, it’s an implied prayer for our expressing kindness in gestures large and small."—Ann Beattie, author of The Accomplished Guest

“Smith skillfully pivots from wry humor to real tenderness toward her quirkily engaging characters. Beneath the novel’s occasionally frothy surface beats a compassionate, generous heart. A warmhearted story of improbably matched characters trying to reclaim their lives.”—Kirkus Reviews

Magnificent performance by the narrator.

The story is reasonably entertaining even if difficult to imagine that anyone could be such a hot mess as the female protagonist here, but her internal dialogue is excellent and the narrator is beyond spectacular.

Great Book!

Great story, easy to listen too hard to put down. Would definitely recommend this book!

Not Renee

All sorts of reasons to be sad, but DeeDee remains such an upbeat & happy person!

Funny with serious themes

This book will make you laugh out loud. Sometimes it makes you want to cry for the female lead character in the story. Unfortunately the background she (the character) describes in the book is rooted in the reality many young women live with. Very adult themes...don't listen to this with young children in earshot.

Couldn’t turn it off…

Great story very well, written, and very easy to listen to. Couldn’t wait to finish it.

Sweet story

Enjoyed the narration and characters. I only wish the ending had been more developed. Needed one more chapter.

Great storytelling!

A Lee Smith masterpiece! Silver Linings is told from several different perspectives, but super easy to follow on Audible. The narrators voice is perfect. It made me laugh out loud a few times, although it certainly explores some very serious modern day issues. It also made me want to go to Key West! The only reason for 4 stars is a rather abrupt ending. I really craved more of the story in the end.

A book of hope and determination

It took a couple of chapters to get into the book but then I couldn't stop listening. I wish there was more of an ending but there was hope. The story gave insight into sexual exploitation. There was too much profanity and I didn't like the narrator's voice which was whiny. Should have had a more natural voice with a mountain accent. I have been reading Lee Smith's books for years and love her writing.

Silver Alert

Characters and locale were on point. I appreciated that the characters were struggling with real life.

Different but….

Quirky and fun but lots of profanity. Characters unique but believable. I almost turned it in but glad I didn’t. Editors summery very poor. Hang with it. Almost a novella.