THE JEFFERSON KEY

Cotton Malone, former Justice Department operative, finds himself back in the heat of chasing villains when he foils an assassination attempt on the president. Little does Malone know that all four successful presidential assassinations in American history are linked to this attempt, as well as to an obscure clause in the U.S. Constitution that endorses privateering. Scott Brick’s robust narration style carries listeners through fast-paced fights with modern-day pirates and lends introspection to Malone’s sharp-witted and elegant girlfriend, Cassiopeia Vitt. Brick paints Malone as a reluctant hero who’s still got the moxie and moves to thwart the villains. Brick also adds color to Thomas Jefferson’s legacy of ciphers and the blustery history of American privateering. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2011]