THE ICON

The Holy Mother of Katarini icon, believed to harbor supernatural healing powers and whose theft from a Greek village in 1944 resulted in mass executions and the burning of that village, is up for sale in contemporary New York City from the holdings of Herr Kessler, a shadowy collector recently deceased. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Greek Orthodox Church, a Greek hoodlum, and numerous nefarious characters vie for the icon. Though the narration spans continents and decades, Lewis Grenville remains sure-footed, guiding the listener slowly along a complex path of double and triple-crosses. He relies on subtle pacing, rather than unique voices, as the characters move through a maze of deceit. K.A.T. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]