The Coffee Trader.David Liss. 2003. Read by John Lee. 9-1.5 hour tapes. Books on Tape. 0-7366-9006-9. $80.00. Vinyl; plot notes. A Double, triple and quadruple crosses bedevil the beleaguered be·lea·guer tr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers 1. To harass; beset: We are beleaguered by problems. 2. To surround with troops; besiege. Miguel Lienzo, a 17th-century merchant/trader/entrepreneur working his wits and wiles wile n. 1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare. 2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure: the wiles of a skilled negotiator. 3. Trickery; cunning. on the early commodities market of Amsterdam. Having outwitted the Inquisition in Portugal, he now tries to use those wits to outmaneuver out·ma·neu·ver tr.v. out·ma·neu·vered, out·ma·neu·ver·ing, out·ma·neu·vers 1. To overcome (an opponent) by artful, clever maneuvering. 2. other well-versed brokers. One big problem is that he belongs to a strict orthodox community with a contentious leader, Parido, whom he has offended by refusing to marry his daughter and thwarting him on the exchange. Impoverished after some ill-fated ventures, he lives with his brother and his attractive wife. When Lienzo is introduced to coffee and enticed into trying to corner the market, the multiple plots thicken thick·en tr. & intr.v. thick·ened, thick·en·ing, thick·ens 1. To make or become thick or thicker: Thicken the sauce with cornstarch. The crowd thickened near the doorway. 2. , divide, and nearly ruin him for good. A lively and intricate tale, one that will have you brewing pots of coffee or running to the local coffee shack for the brew. Good historical fiction with mystery and a little romance. Lee narrates flawlessly. His characterizations, timing, accents and tones are exceptionally well done. Mary Purucker, Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. PL., Beverly Hills, CA |
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