WORTHY BROWN'S DAUGHTER

The American frontier drew scoundrels and saints seeking a fresh start. Narrator Jason Culp colorfully creates such types with crisp shadings and dialects in this riveting drama. The center of this story, set in fledgling Portland, Oregon, is haunted attorney Matthew Penny. Penny takes the case of freed slave Worthy Brown, whose daughter remains the property of slimy transplanted lawyer Caleb Barbour, who reneged on his promise to free her. Murder follows, with the anguished Penny seeking justice. Culp's soft-spoken portrayal of Penny reveals the young lawyer's cagey intellect. Culp also utilizes his vocal chops to create memorable secondary characters, not just among the many males but also for key females. Like the mighty Willamette, this sterling production rolls swiftly along. D.E.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2014]