The First Counsel

By: Brad Meltzer

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Shadow is the Secret Service code name for First Daughter, Nora Hartson. And when Michael Garrick, a young White House lawyer, begins dating the irresistible Nora, he's instantly spellbound, just like everyone else in her world.

It's a world all of us have heard about but few of us really know. A world where power is an aphrodisiac, your father is the President, your close friends wear earpieces and carry guns, and everyone watches your every move.

Like most, Michael thinks he can handle the pressure. Until, while together late one night, he and Nora witness something they were never meant to see - and become ensnared in a secret scheme by a White House insider that includes betrayal and murder.

Suddenly, this young Washington power broker, who just yesterday was out on a dream date, finds himself trusting no one, not even Nora, in a battle to prove his innocence. It's a battle that will shake the walls of the Oval Office to their foundations - and may ultimately cost Michael Garrick his life.

©2001 by Forty-Four Steps, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (P)2001 Time Warner AudioBooks, A Division of Time Warner Trade Publishing

The reader kept lowering his voice I missed parts

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I found it frustrating when the reader lowered his voice for emphasis I could not hear him.I was driving this is not good

What other book might you compare The First Counsel to and why?

none come to mind

How did the narrator detract from the book?

90%

Could you see The First Counsel being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

maybe

Any additional comments?

The storyline is good and enough twists in it to make it a good listen but the reader....

Don't do it

I hate every character in this book, no strike that, the dad is ok, everyone else I hate. I've read others from this author and I have read other political reads, this one is not worth your time. I'm half way through it and had to stop to say how much I'm hating it to Kee another person from investing in it. I literally want to throw my phone.
The production quality is poor, seems they had to rerecord sections so it fades in and out. But that's the least if its problems. I've little tolerance for people that continue to do the stupid thing over and over again. I'll probably finish it but for now I've got to stop because it's giving me anxiety

Great listen, minus audio issues

Audio wasn't consistant, volume and tone changes too much to ignore but doesn't take away from a great story.

great read entertaing and thrilling

edge of your seat listening, it's a great story, definitely in the top 5 of Brad Meltzer Books.

Disappointing

I hung in there til the end, but was disappointed with the story and frustrated by the fluctuating narration volume and poor sound quality. The plot was too often contrived, characters were poorly developed, and their actions were often implausible. After enjoying The Millionaires, I expected better from this author.

Insider tidbits don't save implausible storyline

I listened to this through the end hoping it would get better, but was very dissapointed. The plot is implausible at best, the characters are generally dislikeable and the author often fails to build the proper foundation to make their actions believeable. Very shallow writing with a thin, unlikely, and predictable plot.

OMG this Character is ridiculous

I pray that this character isn’t within 4000 miles of the White House; this Michael character is indeed rude and an idiot.

Not even Scott Brick could save it

I am an attorney who typically enjoys "legal fiction". When I saw this book,read by my one of my favorites, it was irresistable. A legal fiction best seller being performed by my favorite reader was something I could not pass up.

I should have. I have never wished to "return" a selection for the 2 years I have been an Aubible member until this one.

The story progresses in difficult to follow fits and starts. Meltzer tries too hard and ends up with an overcomplicated, unbelieveable story that lacks depth in important areas. The story quickly became such a chore to follow, I gave up about three quarters of the way through the program.

Save your money, there are many much better choices if you are looking for Brick's work.

First Counsel

I think I'm being generous giving it one star. I'm finally to the last CD. It's a very tedious read. The narrator was too over-dramatic for me. At times, he spoke so softly I couldn't hear him. Other times I am turning down the volume because he is screaming.

It seems the author managed to get a very in-depth tour of the White House and built a novel around it. It seems much of the tedium comes from the fact that he devotes too much time to inventing scenes so that he can incorporate every stop on his White House tour.

The characters in the book were simply unbelieveable. Nora was such a flake. Michael, too stupid for his own good. The dialogue was just plain awful.

This was my first Brad Meltzer novel and will be my last.

Disappointing

What disappointed you about The First Counsel?

I listened to two other books by Brad Meltzer and they were fantastic, so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately this was a complete disappointment. The story started off great - White house intrigue, first family involvement, possible blackmail... All great beginning, unfortunately the story was thin, the character development weak to none existent. The dialogue monotonous. You just did not care who did it.