THE AMERICAN

The protagonist of Booth’s novel is known only as Mr. Butterfly, for the subjects of his paintings of the Italian countryside. But he is hardly the kindly, aloof expatriate artist people take him for. In reality, he’s a custom maker of firearms, in particular those required by hit men and assassins. Despite his need for secrecy, Mr. Butterfly is not immune to the yearnings of love and companionship, and developing relationships are now threatened because of his past. Ralph Cosham affects the detachment of this lone wolf—his watchfulness and attentiveness. While Cosham doesn’t quite reflect the coldness listeners might expect of such a man, he creates a portrait of a man they can emotionally engage with. M.O. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2011]