Even though we're still well under a year into the current pandemic, fictional works incorporating quarantine, social distancing, etc. have already started to appear, though mostly in the form of shorter audiobook productions. Inside Jobs by Ben H. Winters was pretty good, consisting of a few short crime thrillers, all incorporating or complicated by the Covid 19 situation.
Even better was The Cuckoo's Cry by Caroline Overington, a 4-plus hour Audible Original. Just released, it involves pleasant senior citizen Don Barlow being suddenly confronted by the 16 year old granddaughter he never knew he had, courtesy of a youthful indiscretion occurring long before Don's marriage. After the initial surprise, widower Don is delighted by the company and lets the girl quarantine with him, with Don's grown daughter becoming very suspicious about the girl and her murky past.
Is there more to granddaughter Morgan than meets the eye? It's well worth listening to find out. While definitely a thriller, the story employs character interaction and themes worthy of a good straight-up drama or literary work. And the inclusion of the Covid crisis as a backdrop doesn't come off as a gimmick, but an effective detail that enriches the narrative.
The story is also nicely read by Aimee Horne, who navigates the many emotions and moods of Ms. Overington's fast-paced but rich narrative.
Both Inside Jobs and The Cuckoo's Cry are available to download at Audible. I listened to them free as part of the two Audible originals productions subscribers are allowed to select each month at no cost, but their normal costs are pretty modest if you go that route instead.
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