The Testament

Frank Muller's reading of John Grisham's latest and much heralded legal thriller is a testament to his versatility. Muller's offering enlivens an otherwise dull account about what happens when a multi-billionaire gets postmortem revenge on his worthless children and ex-wives by leaving his fortune to an unknown illegitimate daughter. Grisham's first chapter, the best in the book, and Muller's superlative reading promise the listener an exciting and suspense-filled adventure. Grisham, however, gets bogged down. But for Muller's crisp and dependable reading, this reviewer would not have made it to the last chapter. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Here's another mystery spawned by the DA VINCI CODE, and, like its precursor, it's got more than a few surprises. Not surprising, however, is the fluid way Don Leslie handles the long, engaging story. Bravo (short for Braverman) Shaw succeeds his father in attempting to safeguard a testament believed to have been created by Christ. Naturally, an order of knights, ostensibly commissioned by the Church, also wants the prize and is willing to do anything, including committing multiple murders, to get it and the secrets it holds. Leslie maneuvers through a host of characters and complex scenarios, keeping the listener at attention. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

February 1, 1999
Grisham, with his master-storyteller legal thriller form, always plays well on audio. His latest begins with a coyly playful opening scene. Elderly billionaire industrialist Troy Phelan is holding court from his corporate office headquarters in Virginia. He has just rewritten his will to ensure that his rogue heirs--six children and three ex-wives--will be cut off. Instead, he gives the bulk of his fortune to an illegitimate daughter, Rachel Lane, a religious missionary living among native peoples in the Brazilian jungle. This done, Phelan hurls himself out the office window, killing himself, leaving his heirs and their $500-an-hour lawyers to fight over his money. From here, the plot turns schmaltzy, as Nate O'Riley, an alcoholic attorney with a heart of gold, is sent to Brazil to seek out Rachel, where he summarily falls in love with her and finds spiritual redemption. Reader Leyva, a Shakespearean actor, is finely tuned as a professional narrator, making the book sound like a movie screenplay waiting to happen. Simultaneous release with the Doubleday hardcover. Also available unabridged and on CD.