Certainty

By: Victor Bevine

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

When you're fighting an injustice, can it be wrong to do what's right?

Inspired by the scandalous true story that shocked a nation at the close of WWI.

With America's entry into World War I, the population of Newport, Rhode Island, seems to double overnight as 25,000 rowdy recruits descend on the Naval Training Station. Drinking, prostitution, and other depravities follow the sailors, transforming the upscale town into what many residents - including young lawyer William Bartlett, whose genteel family has lived in Newport for generations - consider to be a moral cesspool.

When sailors accuse a beloved local clergyman of sexual impropriety, William feels compelled to fight back. He agrees to defend the minister against the shocking allegations, in the face of dire personal and professional consequences. But when the trial grows increasingly sensational, and when outrageous revelations echo all the way from Newport to the federal government, William must confront more than just the truth - he must confront the very nature of good and evil.

Certainty recalls a war-torn era when the line between right and wrong became dangerously blurred.

©2014 Victor Bevine (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

WOW - so good on so many levels

This superbly written book can be read simply as a story with interesting characters and an element of mystery. But as the tale is recounted, fundamental values are up for examination and dearly-held beliefs may be stretched to accommodate the realities faced by the diverse range of characters.In the end, you have to question the place of truth, justice, the law, and personal morality in a situation like this where they come into conflict. Victor Bevine's perceptive portrayal of the protagonists, totally believable internal dialogue and reported speech, perfect pacing and plot structure, plus his excellent narration, make this book a must-read.

Bound for Literary and Oscar Success

Would you listen to Certainty again? Why?

I love books too much to miss listening to one before I die just because I listened to another one twice. The only books I listen to time and again are old friends like the Harry Potter series which have become more like background music. Something I can listen to without paying attention to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Certainty?

There are several gentle and intimate moments that dazzle, shining through the darkness of a story often told in the shadows and through a veil of ignorance and suspicion and cruelty.

And there are the courtroom scenes which, unlike some acrobatic and noisy courtroom dramas, full of histrionics and bluster, carry the weight of truth and the breathlessness of suspense, sustaining the power and urgency of the story even when communicated through a whisper or a glance that only one man can see.

The final courtroom scene is astounding.

Have you listened to any of Victor Bevine’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have. I'm a big fan of Tim Hallinan. His Junior Bender books narrated by Peter Berkrot are among my favorite audiobooks. That led me to the Poke Rafferty series and Victor Bevine. He's a remarkably gifted actor with a beautiful voice and an enormous range. So I plan to listen to all of the rest in that series. And anything else he does that comes along.

I am not ordinarily a fan of author reads which mostly sound like reads and not performances. In this case, Mr. Bevine is an actor first and an author second. He would have been terrific if someone else wrote this, I'm sure.

Here the marriage of word and voice needed no melding, no interpretation, no creative distance. This is what actors talk about when they refer to being organic. The story is not merely moving through him, it is coming from within him. The result is a subtle beauty that defies nor requires description.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Absolutely. I imagine that given the subject matter and the setting, that moment may differ from one listener to the next. Whether one is passionate about the law or justice, about the military or the clergy, whether one is gay or black or female or Muslim and has experienced injustice or blind hatred firsthand, or whether one is simply a human being who loves a good story, there are moving moments for everyone.

Any additional comments?

Yes. First, I'm astonished that this is not a best seller or top ten listen or whatever made The Martian, The Martian. That was a very quiet book. Until someone discovered the human drama beneath the exposition.

CERTAINTY has all the elements of a great book and an Oscar contender at the box office. At turns, fascinating historical fiction, powerful courtroom drama and human interest story, CERTAINTY is sad and sexy, outrageous and enraging, blistering and breathtaking. The questions raised are timely: what is guilt and is innocence, can the small ever defend itself against the all powerful, how can something as beautiful as love be forbidden and how can the world ever change when a single man, even a good one, can be paralyzed by certainty.

Mr. Bevine's work is quiet but it in the quiet that we can hear the truth.

Insightful

A disturbing yet fascinating unveiling of a shameful moment in our nation's history. Both the writing and performance are brilliant. Some scenes so graphic that listening was difficult, but very necessary to the development of the characters and their story. Writing and performance were brilliant.

Despite the subject matter...

...and a personal aversion to the topic especially "particulars" this one was well worth the risk. Read by the author, Mr. Victor Bevine, the character voices were well-performed and completely convincing. The reading alone could probably have salvaged a so-so book but it didn't need to. Based on true events, this is an amazing tale of trying to force particular moralities, often by committing crimes to do it.

It is also a coming of age tale on several levels but much more than in the classical sense, it is the coming of age of attitudes.

Glad I took a chance.

When people have too much power

Fascinating story of a chapter in American history I've never known about. I always looked forward to getting back to this book. The characters were filled out and distinct. One of my favorites just for originality.

10.5 hours of brilliance- tell your friends!

Tell me a story that flawlessly weaves all the things we think or feel about a myriad of social mores, phobias, and taboos. Add in the beautiful voice of the storyteller (who happens to also be the author!), and we have a perfect audiobook.

This story, although filed under "legal thriller", is not what I expected. No "You can't handle the truth!" No shocking twist with a surprise witness. No clever legal maneuvering by a cunning young gun lawyer. Instead, it's a story of what drives us- whether it be the lives we're born into or the ones we choose in order to escape those mistakes of birth- to do the right thing even if the right thing is following bad orders. Image conscious senior partners, vendetta-driven chief petty officers, poor Irish immigrants starving for a new life, sexually confused Midwestern boys, or men with eyes on the presidency... all make choices that lead to terrible consequences.

If you're looking for a clean wrap up in the final moments of a compelling trial, this is not your book. Go read Grisham instead. If you're looking for a story that makes you spellbound and leaves you with the need to examine your soul, read this book.

Then tell your friends because this book needs word of mouth review since big time bestseller list compilers forgot this one.

A Masterful Work of Genius

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely... This book has the rare power to enthrall you, with many twists and turns!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Australian John Rathom because he adds a careful balance to the plot. He fuses the ruggedness of Australia's outback with the civilized world of New England. This leads him to think "outside the box"

What does Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Victor's narration is incredible. Every character maintains a personality through careful intonation.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The final 15 minutes.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook caters to people interested in almost any genre. There is a character that appeals to every personality, not just those looking for a post-WWI era novel.

Outstanding!

If you're a fan of The Stranger by Albert Camus or Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut, you will love Certainty. What keeps a listener like me engaged in these types of books is the UNcertainty of a character's integrity, true motive and overall innocence. As people we want it to be that black and white, but it is stories like this one that take you on a journey of greys. The author did a fantastic job of adding depth to each character, making you care and wonder about them from very early on. The performance, by the author as well, is unsurprisingly glorious as he is an experienced Audible narrator with many audiobooks under his belt.

Made me wish my morning commute were longer

The only difficulty I had getting through the book was that I only have time to listen on my way to and from work, which means that it took a full five days to get through it, and I we constantly on edge. It's hard to stop at any point because the plot flows so well.

Enjoyed it

I thought it started off slow. But it hooked me in and I enjoyed it very much. The narrator did a great job. I received this book for free for my honest and unbiased opinion. I would recommend this book.