Worthy Brown's Daughter
Worthy Brown's Daughter book cover

Worthy Brown's Daughter

Mass Market Paperback – Box set, September 30, 2014

Price
$9.99
Publisher
Harper
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0062195357
Dimensions
4.19 x 0.86 x 7.5 inches
Weight
7.4 ounces

Description

“ Worthy Brown’s Daughter is a fast and absorbing read, and Margolin’s law expertise makes the book’s climax…an exciting moment indeed.” — Seattle Times “Margolin shines in recreating pioneer life .. . . there’s legal wrangling, murder and romance, set against the backdrop of race and frontier life. . . . his scene-setting, knowledge of the frontier and relating of the hard task of the law make for an appealing read.” — Kirkus Reviews “With plenty of action…the lively narrative will keep readers engrossed.” — Library Journal “Margolin captures both the haphazard legal theater―when judges ride the circuit, Portland’s ‘courthouse’ is a loft on the third floor of the Coleman Barrel Company―and the daunting racism of the times.” — Oregonian (Portland) “ Worthy Brown’s Daughter reads something like Deadwood meets Twelve Years a Slave . The finale in the courtroom is as brilliant and exciting as any great legal drama…. [A] beautifully written story rooted in America’s brutal history of slavery and racism.” — Iron Mountain News “[A] compelling tale of justice for sale… vibrant characters…bring the West to life…. If you like westerns or legal thrillers you will get both in Worthy Brown’s Daughter .” — Huffington Post “The Old West comes alive in heart-wrenching, violent, and wicked racist color…. Legal thriller and western fans will stay with it to the last page.… Margolin’s novel offers a compelling portrait of small town justice done right.” — Booklist “Margolin. . . [and] allows passions to sway his heroes, and generates empathy toward his crooks . . . . [On] the courtroom floor, where Margolin is clearly at home, [there is] a satisfying, white-knuckle climax.” — Publishers Weekly “This departure for best-selling thriller writer Margolin might appeal to fans of the acclaimed movie 12 Years a Slave .” — USA Today , “New & Noteworthy” “In New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin’s first historical, recently widowed attorney Matthew Penny has come to newly-settled Oregon to start fresh. He stumbles into the most challenging case of his career when a former slave, Worthy Brown, asks him to save his teenage daughter.” — Huffington Post , “Books I Want to Read Most in 2014” by Wendy Webb, author of The Vanishing “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.” — Bookreporter.com “The action is brisk and the villains are shifty…[t]his energetic tale does cover interesting regional history for readers who might be averse to picking up a book of nonfiction, but who are willing to follow Margolin in his break from the regular routine.” — Bellingham Herald Inspired by a true story, New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin turns his hand to historical fiction in this masterful saga about slavery and justice in the American West Recently widowed attorney Matthew Penny has come to the newly settled Oregon frontier to start a new life. He encounters the most challenging case of his career when a former slave, Worthy Brown, asks him to save his teenage daughter from the man who owned them. Worthy Brown's Daughter is a compelling white-knuckle drama about two broken men risking everything for what they believe. Woven through with rich historical detail, it is a breathtaking narrative about the extent of evil and the high price of true justice. 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. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • 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.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(235)
★★★★
25%
(196)
★★★
15%
(117)
★★
7%
(55)
23%
(179)

Most Helpful Reviews

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it was a great read for several reasons

First time with Phillip Margolin; however, it was a great read for several reasons. First, this was an unknown event, for me, from an historical perspective which required research and seaming. Second, the discovery of Oregon's part and participation in the enslavement of African Americans. Third, Oregon's legal involvement in the slavery system. And, fourth, the courage and strength of White Americans who helped to fight against this inhumane system of system. Margolin attempted, successfully, in seaming these various aspects into a learning and meaningful novel.
12 people found this helpful
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Thoroughly Enjoyed

Lupe's Review:

"I've been here too long, Mr. Penny. If someone sees us talking, it could go bad for me." He started to walk away.

"Wait. If I decide to help you how can I get in touch?"

"Don't worry about that. If you gonna help me, I'll find you."

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This historical fiction novel, set in the early years of Oregon's statehood (1860's) is set up beautifully. We are already endeared to the young, widowed attorney Matthew Penny early on, so it really sets up the emotions and you have already figured out just whose side you want to win by page 1. I really adored this book because Mr. Margolin clearly does his research and has masterfully crafted not just what the Old West would have looked like, but the people who live there and how day to day lives were accomplished in a state that had JUST come into being.

So to start, we have poor Matthew, who has recently become a widow while traveling to the West, and while grieving, has managed to set himself up as a fairly reputable and honest lawyer. His first major case is not going well and as he is leaving the hearing one day, a Negro man comes up to him, Worthy Brown. He comes to him with information to trade if Matthew is willing to help him get his teenage daughter back from the man who used to be his owner when he was a slave. See, when Caleb Barbour, the man who owned Worthy, moved with Worthy and his daughter Roxanne, they (Worthy and Roxanne) became free, since Oregon did not allow slavery. Well, Barbour and Worthy strike a deal, and only Worthy fulfills his end. Barbour is holding Roxanne captive in his home as a servant.

On another story line, we have Sharon Hill, who is, to put it plainly, a whore with designs of grandeur. She has come to Oregon to find a wealthy man to "marry"; she plans to just have the money and prestige, really. She thinks she finds this man in Benjamin Gillette, one of, if not then the most, wealthy and important man in Oregon. She begins to plan...

How Mr. Margolin manages to streamline these two very different story lines so seamlessly is amazing to me and I thoroughly enjoyed watching as lies unraveled, plans fall apart and two men risk losing everything in the name of true and honest justice. This wasn't just a book about slavery and the abolishment, which it very well could have done, but about truth, justice and those who are strong enough to seek them out, when everything around them tells them to let it alone and let it be.

*A physical copy of the novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
1 people found this helpful
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Great weiter

Good book
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A "Worth" Read

A bit of historical fiction, the author has done admirable research on the topic of the law in the Oregon Territory. Not much different from the process of this day, the book is a glimpse into the thinking, evidence, and testimony of the 1860s. The book has added interest in the weaving of several subplots. While sometimes, in question, there was no doubt that good would prevail. The book is also a reminder that human nature does not change much and the same prejudices, greed, and social concerns of that time remain with us today.
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Worthy Brown’s Daughter by Phillip Margolin

This a very plot-driven book full of intrigue, complex relationships, dilemmas, and great characters. The story takes place in Phoenix, Arizona in the 1860s. The main character, Matthew, a widower and lawyer is caught up with the life of Worthy Brown, a former slave, accused of murder of another lawyer, Caleb Barbour, who still “owns” Worthy Brown’s young daughter. There are many “bad guys”, including a scheming, beautiful Sharon Hill, who lets various men fall in love with her in order to acquire fame and fortune. Yes, a good tale. What makes it more than a western adventure is the fast-paced, twisting narrative of court room scenes, the dedication to find the truth by our hero, and the “cause” of saving the daughter and Worthy Brown.
In this 1800s setting, the reader gets a vivid glimpse of Arizona, San Francisco, and mainly Portland, Oregon—the night life, the attitude towards law and order, the ambitions and personal failures of the people who settle in the “new” west. A great Read!
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Five Stars

very, very good read
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Margolin writes again!

Great book!
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Five Stars

a good book; enjoyed reading a book by Margolin which was a departure from his usual genre.
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Great Read

A very good read. Completely engaging. You will not regret this selection.
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Couldn't put it down!

Couldn't put it down. Passing it on to friends.