The Bell Messenger

THE BELL MESSENGER is the story of a well-worn Bible that is passed down from the 1700s to the 1980s. Henry Strozier's rich tones tell a story that alternates between 1980s Phoenix and the travels of the Bible, beginning on an 1865 Civil War battlefield and ending in 1920s Egypt. The title refers to Elijah Bell, one of the owners of the Bible, who inspires the subsequent owners to be God's messengers. Overall, Strozier delivers a captivating narration with many robust characters, including the earnest Elijah Bell, determined Jeremiah Tate, wily Uncle Daniel, and daring Sister Ruth. However, his method of portraying female voices leads to rushing through the dialogue, disrupting the riveting cadence. E.N. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine