THE FIRST COUNSEL

A young White House attorney, romantically involved with the president's daughter, finds himself the FBI's number one suspect when a colleague is murdered. From the opening car chase to the final scenes, there's enough excitement to carry a decently read audio. But Scott Brick goes well beyond this, skillfully capturing attorney Mike's vulner-ability and confusion and the first daughter's bruised psyche. Brick's tone goes from explanatory to ironic to frightened as tension mounts. He is aided by various story devices--slowly opening doors, suspicious sounds, mysterious notes and assignations. Perhaps the most appealing characterization is that of Mike's mentally handicapped father, accomplished with sensitivity but not overkill. Details of White House routine, layout, and history make this tape informative as well as entertaining. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]