The Grace of Crows (Second Edition)

By: Tracy Shawn

Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt

Saylor Crawmore’s ongoing anxiety has not only disrupted her life, but as Saylor fears, may have also affected her teenage children. Even though her husband scoffs at her concerns—tells her that their kids are fine—Saylor still wonders if her issues have caused what she suspects is her son’s obsessive-compulsive disorder and her daughter’s body dysmorphia. Through all this, Saylor must also contend with her narcissistic mother, who blames Saylor for her own unhappiness. Saylor has tried everything she can think of to combat her fears, including self-help books, therapy, and medication. Nothing, so far, has worked. Yet, when she reconnects with her childhood friend, Billy, Saylor begins to hope. Homeless and alone since his teens, Billy brings to light Saylor’s buried memory about the fateful night that led to her anxiety. Sage-like and empathetic, yet also paranoid and delusional, he vanishes after their encounter. Devastated, Saylor sets out on a quest to find him again, a journey in which the kindness of strangers leads to her own acceptance and healing—while also revealing a long-held secret that ultimately unites her to Billy in a way she never thought possible.

©2024 Tracy Shawn (P)2024 Tracy Shawn

Captivating, Insightful

Saylor Crawmore has severe anxieties which have created issues with her relationships. We observe how they manifest in her relationships with her mother, husband, and children, and her work and life overall. She notices anxiety appearing in various forms and intensities in her children as well. A chance encounter with an old acquaintance helps her confront her memories and anxieties. It is this encounter that triggers her remembering long forgotten memories revealing the origins of her anxieties.

The author, Tracy Shawn, crafts a complex yet accessible story about relationships and the pivotal role anxiety and other disorders play in everyone’s lives. Each character and their struggles are thoughtfully developed with ample background and present-day details to illustrate the impact of anxiety with each encounter. The plot is well detailed and the plot twist is well executed. The dialogue was well done and felt authentic to the narrative and to each character.

Caroline Hewitt, the narrator, gave a strong performance and her strong abilities at pacing, building suspense and providing moments of reflection were engaging for the listeners. She smoothly slipped into each character, transporting the listener deeper into the story. Hewitt spoke clearly and smoothly, infusing her voice with the proper emotion and nuance.

Suffering from anxiety myself, this story provides insight for the sufferer and their circle of supporters. It is a rich narrative that allows the listener to be transported into Saylor’s world. I recommend this audiobook.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.