THE FALLEN

Narrator Mike Ortego convincingly depicts the tragedy of the impoverished and violent Allen family of Freebolt, Texas. Firstborn Johnny, a psychopath, murders his father and ultimately ends up on death row. Younger brother Coy becomes a preacher and turns his back on his brother until he receives a summons from prison. Ortego delivers deft portrayals: Johnny's harsh life on the street and in jail, and Coy's happiness in his marriage and his congregation. Equally compelling is the picture of small-town prejudice and the good and bad cops and ministers that BOTH brothers encounter. When the brothers come to believe that Johnny is possessed, Ortego's measured narration keeps Coy's attempt to exorcise the evil from becoming melodramatic. Audio perfectly delivers the frequent shifts in time and place as well as the shocking climax. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2016]