With the horrible remnants of a childhood tragedy forever visible across his otherwise handsome face, Joe Trona is scarred in more ways than one. Rescued from an orphanage by Will Trona, a charismatic Orange County politician who sensed his dark potential, Joe is swept into the maelstrom of power and intimidation that surrounds his adoptive father's illustrious career. Serving as Will's right hand man, Joe is trained to protect and defend his father's territory - but he can't save the powerful man from his enemies. Will Trona is murdered, and Joe will stop at nothing to find out who did it.
Looking for clues as he sifts through the remains of his father's life - his girlfriends, acquaintances, deals, and enemies - Joe comes to realize how many secrets Will Trona possessed, and how many people he had the power to harm. But two leads keep rising to the surface: a little girl who was kidnapped by her mentally disturbed brother, and two rival gangs who seem to have joined forces. As Joe deepens his investigation - and as he is forced to confront painful events of his troubled childhood - these two seemingly disconnected threads will intersect. Just how and why form the crux of this intricate, intelligent mystery that satisfies the mind as well as the heart - and reveals yet again the impeccable detail, vivid characterization, and emotional complexity that make a T. Jefferson Parker novel impossible to resist.
It takes someone special to portray Joe, a 24-year-old deputy sheriff who witnesses his stepfather's murder and dedicates himself to finding the wrongdoers. When he begins to uncover the perpetrators, he also learns how and why he was disfigured twenty-three years earlier. James Daniels is clearly the right choice as narrator, especially for the character of Joe, who is a poignant, thoughtful person. Daniels's voice is not mainstream. His portrayal of Joe is terse and passionate. Even when Joe describes an exciting shoot-out and the focus is on the action, there is something special about him. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
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Joe Trona knows when to go to a quiet place in his mind, high, where the eagle is. As a baby, his face was scarred with acid. Abandoned, then adopted, he is trained as a prison guard and as driver/guard for his adoptive father, whose complex political maneuverings generate tragedy. One foggy night an unseen voice rasps: "Will Trona, let's talk!" and before Joe can move, the man he loves is gunned down. The understanding James Daniels affords Parker's tightly crafted work is outstanding. From politicos to jailbirds, genders and nationalities are excellent. He displays every nuance with perfect pacing, voicing, and intonation, and the story is further enhanced by some use of audio effects. Silent Joe has a true voice in James Daniels. S.B.S. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
About the Author
T. Jefferson Parker is the bestselling author of fourteen previous novels, including Storm Runners and The Fallen. Alongside Dick Francis and James Lee Burke, Parker is one of only three writers to be awarded the Edgar Award for Best Novel more than once. Parker lives with his family in Southern California.
