FORTUNATE SON

Welcome one more of Mosley’s departures from mystery fiction. FORTUNATE SON is a compassionate, lyrical, and heartbreaking story of the parallel lives of two “brothers.” Lorraine Toussaint brilliantly follows the two boys: Tommy, unhealthy and plagued by the harshest of life’s realities, and golden boy Eric, a privileged doctor’s son. The melodrama is occasionally inflated, edging to improbable, and could be over the top in the hands of a less gifted narrator. Toussaint’s thoughtful yet precise handling of the characters and relationships deeply touches the listener. She never misses the opportunity to color an unusual character, making the most of Mosley’s people. The boys’ lives are interwoven with tragedy and loyalty, and Toussaint is a sensitive and intuitive narrator delivering a velvety punch. R.F.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2007 Audies Award Finalist © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]