the setup…
Paul and Chelsea Tanner thought a Paris honeymoon would be the perfect finish to the magic of their wedding. But it ended up being the beginning of a nightmare with no end in sight when they get abducted by persons unknown. Authorities are baffled but soon the search includes agents from the FBI, CIA and French Intelligence when they realize this is a pattern and at least two other couples suffered similar fates. They decide to recruit a young lawyer to pose as bait to figure out where the captured Americans are being held and by whom.
the heart of the story…
This isn’t the legal drama I’ve come to expect but so much more. The tension is set early and is relentless as we get the points of view of the captured along with those of family, the agents searching for them and the captors. Nothing is given away and I had no assurance that anything would turn out okay.
the narration…
Michael Beck really stepped up to the challenge of so many voice distinctions and storytelling variations. He kept me highly engaged…and off balance! Grand performance.
the bottom line…
This was crazy with tension and my emotions took a real beating as I became completely invested in the characters and outcome. Grisham proves he’s got more than legal thriller game and has the espionage chops. I wanted more out of the ending, though, as I still have questions. Might there be more coming in this series? Please say yes.
Book Info
- Release Date: September 29, 2026
- Series: The French Illusion #1
- Narrator: Michael Beck
- Audio Length: 12 hours, 13 minutes
- Publisher: Random House Audio
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