A PAINTED HOUSE

In case you haven't heard, there's nary a lawyer or a court battle in Grisham's latest--the story of 7-year-old Luke Chandler's life on an Arkansas cotton farm during the Korean War. David Lansbury's narration complements the story perfectly. His soft Southern voice ably captures Grisham's loving evocation of time and place, as well as the growing tension that simmers between the itinerant Mexican farm workers and the locals. Lansbury projects the nostalgia of Grisham's tale without succumbing to sentimentality. When the situation explodes into a brutal murder, his voice echoes the momentum of the story. His ability to elicit Luke's emotions and concerns captures a summer seared into the youngster's--and the listener's--memories. D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]