The Unnamed

The attorney Tim Farnsworth seems to have it all—a perfect wife, a loving daughter, rewarding and meaningful work—but the return of a mysterious disorder out of The Red Shoes (at any time of day, Tim is compelled to walk until he passes out with exhaustion) threatens to shatter everything he has built. Ferris delivers an understated reading that is all the more moving for its subtlety. His voice is calm—but it's a controlled calm suggestive of the Farnsworth family's terror and their struggle to assert order over the increasing anarchy. Ferris commands without volume or theatrics and his is a sincere, quiet, and moving performance. The audio features a not-to-be-missed interview with the author, in which he analyzes his writing process and offers his own take on the novel. A Little, Brown/Reagan Arthur hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 16). (Jan.)