I felt like this was a documentary wanna-be, with an "important public announcement" message to motivate and shock parents, guardians, teachers, school administrators, etc. to be always on guard and involved in what your young people are doing.
From the synopsis: "a chorus of voices--those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal--that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment".
That's good I know, but plot, surprise, and twists are all in the null set from the get-go. Pretty boring and predictable after a point.

A prep school is the dominant institution in a small Vermont community. Its prestige is rubbed raw when there is a deplorable sexual scandal.

The audiobook begins with the headmaster viewing the video recording of the event and debating how to "handle" the scandal.

Like a rock dropped into a still pond, the ripples spread uninvited into the lives of so many people. Separate talented readers give voice in separate chapters.

NPR listeners are familiar with what are called "Driveway Moments", when a destination is reached in the middle of a riveting story. The listener remains fixed in the car, unwilling to open the door, until brought to a conclusion.

Similar, in transfixed moments, I had to turn off the recording and let what I had just heard sink in.

Unbidden suffering spread like the plague. Characters wrestled with themselves to understand what they had wrought. Others to chart the fractures that led to yet other seismic events in their lives.

Compelling story. Best audio presentation!

At Avery Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Avery, Vermont, the headmaster finds himself in possession of a videotape of 3 boys, aged 18 and 19, having sex with a 14 year old girl. The scandal wreaks havoc on the school and the dire consequences have a domino effect on the lives of the families, employees and townspeople. The format is that of a researcher interviewing the participants. Wonderfully read by 14 persons.

Wow! There were times I was actually sobbing listening to this powerful story. I am a huge Anita Shreve fan anyway, and this story did not disappoint. The audio book is exceptionally well done. There are different voices for each character. Please don't let the first chapter scare you away. It is a very graphic description of a sexual encounter between teenagers, but is essential to your experience of the rest of the story.