The Blind Assassin
Narrated by Margot Dionne
Why Listen to This Audiobook?
You think you're listening to an old woman's memoir until the nested fiction starts feeling more honest than the 'true' story surrounding it.
- Great if you want: layered literary fiction where structure is part of the payoff
- Listening experience: slow, cerebral, deliberately paced — rewards sustained attention over 18 hours
- Narration: Dionne's restrained precision suits Iris's controlled, unreliable voice perfectly
- Skip if: you need plot momentum; this withholds and circles for a long time
About This Audiobook
Iris Chase Griffen recounts the mysterious circumstances surrounding her sister Laura's death in 1945, when Laura drove off a bridge ten days after the war ended. As elderly Iris reflects on their shared past in Depression-era Canada, she weaves together family secrets, forbidden romance, and the dangerous political tensions of the 1930s and 1940s. The narrative unfolds through multiple layers: Iris's memoir, excerpts from Laura's posthumously published novel also titled "The Blind Assassin," and newspaper clippings that reveal shocking family tragedies. At the heart of the mystery lies a passionate love affair and the complex relationship between two sisters from a wealthy but declining family.
Margot Dionne delivers a masterful performance that captures the distinctive voice of aging Iris with remarkable authenticity and emotional depth. Her narration skillfully navigates Atwood's intricate structure, seamlessly transitioning between the different narrative threads and time periods while maintaining clarity for listeners. Dionne's measured pacing allows the story's secrets to unfold naturally, while her nuanced delivery brings out both the wit and melancholy that permeate Iris's recollections. The audio format particularly enhances the intimate, confessional quality of the memoir, making listeners feel as though they are sitting with Iris as she finally reveals long-buried truths.