The Half Moon

Malcolm Gephart has always dreamed of owning the Half Moon, the bar where he works. He dreams of the bar’s potential and stretches his finances to make it work after his boss’s retirement. Good-looking and gregarious, Malcolm is loved by the patrons. After years of failed attempts to conceive a much-wanted child, his wife Jess is staring down a future that may not include a child of her own. Told over the course of a week, when his former boss goes missing, secrets are uncovered, and a blizzard hits, as everyone learns the power of forgiveness. Keane’s (Ask Again, Yes) latest is a heartwarming, satisfying listen that explores the complications of small-town life and the many definitions of family. Norbert Leo Butz and Rebecca Lowman narrate Malcolm and Jess as they navigate their hurts, expectations, and midlife crises. Butz provides a subtle, almost gentle narration of Malcolm, capturing both his desperation and his confusion. Lowman’s narration of Jess is that of a wounded yet determined woman who will stop at nothing to have the family of which she dreams.