Lion Plays Rough

Narrator Bray perfectly embodies rough-around-the-edges criminal lawyer Leo Maxwell and brings his world to life, in this entertaining audio edition. Set in Oakland, Calif.. Teddy Maxwell, a once-brilliant but now mentally disabled attorney, lives with his brother, Leo, after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. And while Leo may not be as brainy as his brother once was, he’s certainly stalwart, resourceful, and tenacious—qualities he’ll need when he finds himself dealing with a mystery replete with political corruption and murder. Bray brings a suitably gruff delivery to Leo’s first-person narration, lending a hard-boiled feel to the character and the prose. Leo isn’t some slick Ivy League corporate lawyer—and Bray draws out just the right amount of the character’s grit. Bray is equally adept in his portrayal of the secondary characters, but it’s Leo’s distinctive voice that drives the story and keeps listeners engaged. A Mysterious Press hardcover. (Jan.)