Those Empty Eyes

Donlea’s (Summit Lake) latest follows Alexandra Quinlan, whose entire family was murdered when she was just 17. Narrator Vivienne Leheny provides a tension-filled performance, describing how Alexandra survives only by accident. When the police arrive, they find her with the murder weapon in her lap and charge her with the crime. She is eventually exonerated, but not before spending time in juvenile detention and enduring cruel harassment from the media and from true-crime fans. Still haunted by her family’s deaths, Alexandra adopts a new identity, changing her name to Alex Armstrong and throwing herself into her work as a legal investigator. This work is not without its dangers, as Alex soon uncovers a disturbing case that may be connected to her family’s murder. Leheny’s portrayal of Alexandra is poignant, capturing the confusion of young Alexandra and the tenacity of her older self. She ably handles the multiple storylines, some of which may strain credulity, and provides a well-paced and engrossing listen.