THE CHRYSALIS

Heather Terrell presents three stories in one--the painting of the masterpiece THE CHRYSALIS in the seventeenth century; the owner's efforts to protect the masterpiece from the Nazis during WWII; and modern-day attorney Mara Coyne's efforts to defend a renowned auction house's ownership of the painting. The book shifts between the three time periods, and Timothi Jane Graham is up to the challenge of switching gears and centuries. She does a thoughtful job of giving a unique voice to each character but falls short in moving the pace along during the overly detailed legal arguments. The story is interesting, and Graham shines in narrating the scenes of the painting's creation. But the story falls a bit flat, with characters that fail to engage the heart. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]