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    Worthy Brown's Daughter
    Worthy Brown's Daughter
    Worthy Brown's Daughter
    Audiobook8 hours

    Worthy Brown's Daughter

    Written by Phillip Margolin

    Narrated by Jason Culp

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Known for his critically acclaimed contemporary thrillers, New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin explores intriguing new territory in Worthy Brown's Daughter, a compelling historical drama, set in nineteenth-century Oregon, that combines a heartbreaking story of slavery and murder with classic Margolin plot twists.

    One of a handful of lawyers in the new state of Oregon, recently widowed Matthew Penny agrees to help Worthy Brown, a newly freed slave, rescue his fifteen year old daughter, Roxanne, from their former master, a powerful Portland lawyer. Worthy's lawsuit sets in motion events that lead to Worthy's arrest for murder and create an agonizing moral dilemma that could send either Worthy or Matthew to the hangman.

    At the same time, hanging judge Jed Tyler, a powerful politician with a barren personal life, becomes infatuated with a beautiful gold-digger who is scheming to murder Benjamin Gillette, Oregon's wealthiest businessman. When Gillette appears to die from natural causes, Sharon Hill produces a forged contract of marriage and Tyler must decide if he will sacrifice his reputation to defend that of the woman who inspired his irrational obsession.

    At Worthy's trial, Matthew saves Worthy by producing a stunning courtroom surprise and his attempt to stop the deadly fortune hunter ends in a violent climax.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 21, 2014
    ISBN9780062308542
    Author

    Phillip Margolin

    Phillip Margolin has written nineteen novels, many of them New York Times bestsellers, including his latest novels Woman with a Gun, Worthy Brown’s Daughter, Sleight of Hand, and the Washington trilogy. Each displays a unique, compelling insider’s view of criminal behavior, which comes from his long background as a criminal defense attorney who has handled thirty murder cases. Winner of the Distinguished Northwest Writer Award, he lives in Portland, Oregon.

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    Reviews for Worthy Brown's Daughter

    4/5

    67 ratings14 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Inspired by real legal cases, Worthy Brown's Daughter is set in Oregon in 1860. There are two concurrent, but unconnected, plots which are linked by Matthew Penny, a young lawyer. In the first, Worthy Brown is a former slave who enlists the aid of Penny to free his teenaged daughter from their former master. The second involves a circuit judge and the richest man in town who are both brought low by the scheming prostitute, Sharon Hill. This is a novel and interesting setting for a book. I know nothing about Oregon's history, and this book was a very entertaining introduction to its society and legal system. (Don't worry, the trials are not boring at all.) There is also a charming, non-sappy love story. All of the characters were well-developed and acted in a believable manner. Matthew, Worthy and his daughter were particularly appealing characters. I thought there were some giant holes in the final legal argument, but I still found the ending very satisfying.I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
    • 4/5
      Worthy Brown’s Daughter by Phillip Margolin is set in nineteenth century Oregon and is a beautifully well-written work of historical fiction loosely based on a true court case. The reader meets Matthew Penny; one of the few lawyers in Oregon and learns of his character prior to his agreeing to take on Worthy Brown, a newly freed slave, as a client. The twist comes with Worthy’s request, to sue Caleb Barbour for not following through with setting his daughter Roxanne free. The Brown v Barbour case will lead to many twists that neither the reader nor the characters could possibly have envisioned. Worthy Brown’s Daughter is far more than an extraordinary work of historical fiction, it is a look into nineteenth century law, justice, corruption at the highest levels, murder, mystery, and love. Worthy Brown’s Daughter by Philip Margolin is not to be missed by book enthusiasts or discussion groups.
    • 3/5
      An entertaining historical legal drama set in1860s Portland, Oregon, and gets it right to, for accuracy.
    • 3/5
      Interesting history of Oregon's stance on slavery. Ok story.
    • 5/5
      Phillip Margolin is one of those special authors who, when a reader picks up their book, they know they are in for an entertaining experience.I was sent this book from Amazon vine, in return for my review and I couldn't be happier that I picked this book.The time is 1860 and Oregon is really beginning to grow. Matthew Penny and his wife decide to move west from Ohio and travel by wagon train. However, Matthew losses his wife when a wagon is swept down a river crossing.With this burden behind him, he moves to Phoenix, Oregon where he's appointed to defend a man accused of theft. When he wins the case, another man approaches him and tells him that this man has information that Matthew can use to win another case he was preparing for. All this man wants is the promise from Matthew that if the information helps, Matthew would promise to return the favor. (For just a bit, it seems like the devil in Damn Yankees).Matthew wins the new case and what the man wants is Matthew's help in getting his daughter who is being kept as a slave by a wealthy but unscrupulous man.It's difficult not to give away plot but the story moves along swiftly. The characters are vividly drawn as is the setting of the early days of Portland, Oregon. We see such things as the first steam locomotive in that part of the country.This is one of the best books I've read this year. My heart was beating faster and faster as I approached the conclusion which was both appropriate and satisfying.
    • 2/5
      I really wanted to like this one. No kidding. I am a fan of historical fiction, especially novels pertaining to the Civil War era, so I had high hopes for "Worthy Brown's Daughter" coming in. After all, it tells the story of the young daughter of a former slave who was being held against her will by her father's former owner. The story takes place in the Oregon Territory of the late 1850s and Worthy Brown is only a free man because of being in the right place at the right time. Oregon, when it passed its state constitution, placed language in that document that freed all slaves being held in the state who were there before passage of the new law. Brown's owner was not happy about freeing him, and he decided to hold on to Brown's daughter as a bit of revenge. Brown, unexpectedly, decided to get himself a good white lawyer and meet his former owner in the court house.That plot is what the book has going best for it. Unfortunately, there are way more negatives than positives when it comes to almost everything else about the book.!. The characters are, for the most part, stereotypical of the times and are pretty much just cardboard cutouts. It is difficult to see all but one or two of them as anything approaching real, breathing human beings.2. The action, and there is a whole lot of action (including murders, rapes, fights, hangings, etc.), in the book is "thriller" type action with very little meat to it. The numerous incidents approach like summer thunder storms and are done and gone just as quickly. It sort of makes the reader's head spin that things happen so quickly and are forgotten.3. There is what should have been a subplot in the novel that comes very close to overwhelming the book's main plot. It is a farce of a murder story involving a sociopath that borders on the ridiculous. But it gets as many, if not more, pages as the real story of what will happen to Worthy Brown's daughter. Admittedly, the two plots do overlap and influence each other...but come on.Bottom Line: this one is a disappointment.
    • 3/5
      In the early 1980's lawyer Phillip Margolin stumbled upon a case from an Oregon file dated 1844. The case stayed with him over the years and "I was so inspired by this story that I began thinking about writing a novel loosely based on it." Nearly thirty years later, he did. Margolin's latest release is Worthy Brown's Daughter. Matthew Penny, a young lawyer in mid 1880's Oregon, is hired by former slave Worthy Brown. His master freed Worthy, but reneged on his promise to also free Worthy's young daughter Roxanne. Penny takes the case. Margolin also mixes in a secondary storyline involving a crooked judge and a gold digger. The two plots do have a connection - the headstrong woman who captures Penny's interest. I chose to listen to Worthy Brown's Daughter. The reader was Jason Culp. Culp has a clear speaking voice that is easy to listen to. He does provide lots of inflection, accenting actions and emotions. But I did have a hard time with the voices he provided for some characters - notably the females and black characters. They seemed overdone and overwrought. But this could simply be the dialogue that Culp is reading from. I thought some of Margolin's scenes and dialogue were over sensationalized. This detracted from what was otherwise a solid storyline. Margolin has done his research - the legal system of the time is accurately portrayed. It was fascinating to think that this was an actual case. From the publisher's website: "Worthy Brown's Daughter is a compelling white-knuckle drama about two broken men risking everything for what they believe in." Not quite for this listener. I found it to be entertaining, but nowhere near white-knuckle territory. Margolin is a prolific author, having penned many legal thrillers. Fans of James Patterson would enjoy Margolin's style of writing.
    • 4/5
      First of all, I must state that this is the first Margolin novel I have read, so I didn't come into this with any preconceived notions of what to expect (although I understand he is a very popular author). That said, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found: a fast-paced, well-plotted historical novel rooted in an actual legal case that took place in Oregon in the mid-1800s. When a white man relocated to Oregon from the South with his slaves he promised to free them once he got settled in Oregon (where slavery wasn't legal, which isn't to say that black people were welcome in Oregon...quite the opposite in fact). He only freed part of the slave family, keeping one for himself and this is the crux of the legal case that ensues and the novel. Margolin does a fantastic job keeping the narrative moving along quickly and yet still creating fully developed characters. At no point does the novel get bogged down in legalese or lengthy descriptions as one might expect. Instead, Margolin expertly weaves the legal case and history with the action of the novel and as a result, I was consistently interested throughout and never once found myself bored or my attention wandering. Overall, I'd recommend the novel for any American history buff....especially anyone who enjoys the American West. Although this is historical fiction, the case it is based upon makes it a fascinating read.
    • 5/5
      Worthy Brown is a humble man. He works hard for what he wants. For example he was a slave but now he is finally a free man. Not without a lot of hard work and pain. If there was any other way Mr. Brown would take it but there is not. Thus he takes himself down to Matthew Penny's office. Mr. Penny is an attorney. Mr. Brown's former employer made a deal with Mr. Brown that if he and his daughter worked for him for another year then he would release them both. As you can imagine, he broke that deal. Now Mr. Brown will do everything he can to get his daughter back and give her her freedom. I was first introduced to this author by reading his book, Sleight of Hand. After reading that book I knew I needed to check out this author's other books. When I got the chance to read Mr. Margolin's newest book, I knew I could not pass up the opportunity. Plus, I have always been fascinated by the South and this time period. Instantly, I was spellbound by this book and the story of Mr. Brown and his daughter. This book was so great that as soon as I finished the last word, I ran to by co-worker and raved about this book. I told her she needed to write down this author's name and this book and check it out when it became available. In fact this book was so good that I even compared it to another one of my all time favorite classic books that I read...To Kill a Mockingbird. Yes, I did just make this reference. Worthy Brown's Daughter is a must read and must keeper!
    • 3/5
      Portland, Oregon is the 1860's is a typical frontier town, a place where things are not very easy. Yet, Matthew seizes the opportunity to relocate there from the east, and he and his wife join the wagons heading over the Oregon Trail. Matthew makes it to Oregon, his wife does not. Once in Oregon,Matthew who is a lawyer becomes embroiled in a few cases over a property dispute and lands on the wrong side of a man, who does not easily forgive. He also decides to undertake the lawsuit of a negro, the said Worthy, whose daughter in still being held as a slave even though slaves are illegal in Oregon. Margolin has written legal thrillers for many years so he knows his way around a courtroom. and this one is loosely based on a true incident. Really enjoyed Matthew's character and the rough and tumble of this western town. The corruption and graft, violence never far from the core. It was very unusual for a white man at that time to take on the defense of a black man, yet it was done. There were a couple of subplots that I felt were not really necessary, taking away from the main plot which was very interesting. Also at the end Matthew's new love interest lectures Worthy's daughter, about doing something with her life rather than being a servant something I did not like and could have been left out. All in all a good solid read.
    • 3/5
      I won this book in exchange for an honest review.First let me state I have never read Philip Margolin so I cannot compare this novel to his other writings. Based on this stand alone book, I would not perceive Mr. Margolin to be the well received author that he is. The plot is loosely based on a historical event where a former slave sued a white man to get his daughter back. Set in 1860 Oregon the story starts off strong with Worthy Brown wanting to sue Caleb Barbour for reneging on his agreement; Worthy and his daughter were to be freed after working on his land for a year. Caleb Barbour gives Worthy his freedom but refuses to let Worthy's daughter go.Matthew Penny, suffering from his personal demons of losing his wife on the Oregon trail, agrees to be Worthy's attorney. Actions occur (which I will not disclose as it would be a spoiler) that strain the relationship between Matthew and Worthy and potentially complicate the case.Now this is a substantial plot line however, Mr. Margolin then decides to infuse the novel with another totally unrelated plot; the case of Benjamin Gillette and the prostitute/con artist who tries to get his estate and money. The two plots don't even connect as different characters are involved. The only connection I found between the two was the fact that there was a trial going on. Worthy Brown's Daughter had great potential if only the author had kept his focus of the main plot and not diminish it with a weak, cliched subplot.
    • 5/5
      I received an advance copy of this book from The Reading Room (Harper Collins).Let me say right up front that I am a fan of Phillip Margolin. However, this book is very different from his other books as this one is set in the 1800s in Oregon. Worthy Brown is a freed black man, as result of the new laws in Oregon. However, his former master refused to set Worthy's daughter free. Young attorney Matthew Penny, newly arrived in Oregon, is still grief-stricken over the loss of his beloved wife on the journey to Oregon. But an encounter with Miss Heather Gillette causes him to feel a spark of life again. Then there is Sharon Hill, the consummate actress. She is able to manipulate the strongest of men. The combination of these characters and some less major ones creates a drama that is hard to break yourself away from.While a fan of Margolin, I couldn't imagine him writing a western! But it grabbed me almost from the very beginning. It is an easy and quick read which is what I needed right now. I loved this book
    • 4/5
      Worthy Brown's Daughter is 2014 Harper publication written by Phillip Margolin. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.The 1860's, Matthew Penny and his young wife make the journey from Ohio to Oregon where he wished to set up a law practice. Tragically on the journey Rachel dies in an accident. Bereft, Matthew continues on with his plans and sets up a law office in Portland. He isn't really doing all that well with the firm, when he becomes embroiled in a case involving a man accused of stealing money from a strikingly beautiful woman. The man is found guilty but Matthew is certain he was conned.On another note Matthew meets a charming young lady named Heather. For the first time since Rachel's death he feels like he could have a chance at happiness. Fate intervenes when Worthy Brown visits Matthew will a shocking revelation. In return for this information, Worthy wants Matthew to sue Worthy's former owner. Why? Worthy and his daughter Roxanne were made a bargain that would set them free from slavery. They did their part, but Worthy was the only one set free. His daughter is still enslaved and Worthy wants her released.Matthew is faced the an unprecedented moral dilemma. He agreed to take Worthy's case, never suspecting the outcome of his involvement. In the 1860's Oregon was a new state and there were new rules or laws concerning slave ownership. Worthy, had a right to have his daughter returned, but once again fate intervened and Worthy finds himself imprisoned, facing the gallows. Can Matthew save him before it's too late?This is a compelling historical fiction mystery based in part on a real case. The attitude regarding blacks often led some to the helpless conclusion that they were not worth defending. They had no future, not way to educate themselves and very little money. This trap would lead Worthy to make a decision that would set a guilty man free, because he felt one man's life was worth more than another's. Matthew disagrees vehemently and fights for justice however he can get it. In the meantime the beautiful con artist sets her sights on Heather's widowed father and attempts to take Heather's inheritance from her. Once more Matthew must try to bring the wily mastermind to justice once and for all. So, there are two crimes Matthew is seeking to bring a close to. His future is also questionable as he isn't sure if he should try to tough it out in Oregon and maybe have a future with Heather, or to pack it all in and return to Ohio. Matthew's character is very honorable, despite his flaws. He is pretty hard on himself at times. Heather is also a likeable person and I admired her for sticking with the man she loved through some shocking truths and very difficult times. The political and judicial corruption was alive and well in 1860 as much as it is today. Men were bribed, promised powerful positions and blindsided by their own goals and greed. There were a lot of bad guys in this one, all with an agenda of their own. Overall this was an interesting crime drama that explored a painful period in our history. I give this one a B+
    • 4/5
      With this story, Phillip Margolin takes a difficult time from our country's history and paints a vivid portrait. I could see this story playing out in the 'wild west' 150 years ago. The details are profoundly disturbing; not because Margolin overdoes it, but because he gets it just right. We're forced to take a hard look at prejudice of all sorts, as well as the (mis)treatment of women. For readers who are longtime fans of Margolin's courtroom dramas, there is much of that here as well. This story takes place at the very beginning of courts and judges in the west, and we see the way the system worked and didn't work back then. My only problem with this book is that many of the characters felt a little too good or bad. Few people are one way or the other in life. I wanted more depth and variation. Though I have to say that Matthew Penny's character was well done, if not a little predictable. I could feel his anguish as he struggled with the hardships of his life.Overall, this is an interesting read and an important reminder of what we've left behind.