The Counselor

June 15, 2014

Listeners to this screenplay--the Ridley Scott-directed film came out in 2013--will gain unexpected insights into cocaine smuggling along the Mexico-Arizona border: the complexities and intricacies of hiding contraband; the risks for mules, smugglers, and drug lords from one another as well as from the authorities; and the sophisticated devices used to eradicate those unlucky enough to slow the flow of drugs or money in the trade. A young lawyer attempting to score enough to fund his marriage and a very wealthy retirement gets in over his head and all hell breaks loose. This is a well-written work given an excellent reading by Jonathan Davis. VERDICT Since it is a screenplay, the rich descriptions readers usually find in McCarthy's fiction have been left to the cinematographer. This makes the listening experience less than optimal, but, still, this work is recommended for adult audio collections. --Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

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