The Long Ago

Best known for his Kevin Kerney and “American West” series, McGarrity offers a stand-alone mystery about siblings Ray and Barbara Lansdale. Ray and Barbara survived their dysfunctional, unstable childhood in Montana by escaping to an imaginary hideaway, a place of safety and wonder that they called the Long Ago. Ray eventually found himself by joining the army. However, when Ray learns that Barbara has suddenly disappeared, he uses his short leave before his next deployment to find her. Narrator George Newbern reads McGarrity’s 1960s-set family saga with a measured, calm tone as he sensitively describes the strength of family bonds and the kindness of friends. Newbern employs multiple character voices and accents, navigating the twists and turns of this layered story that takes listeners from rural Montana to Hollywood. Though audiences encounter some implausible plot premises (e.g., the idea that Barbara abandoned her loving brother without a word), McGarrity’s story intrigues.