Listen to Popular Authors Full Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

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Title: The Last Spymaster

Author: Gayle Lynds

Narrator: David Colacci

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-17-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 565 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

Then one morning, his cell is discovered empty. Jay Tice has vanished - without tripping an alarm or leaving any trace of his passing.

Elaine Cunningham is a hunter - a CIA operative who specializes in finding people who don't want to be found. Young, gifted and a maverick, she is assigned to track Tice and bring him to ground before he disappears forever. But as she matches wits in a perilous game with one of the greatest spymasters of all time, she discovers there is far more at stake than an old spy's last run for freedom.

Lurking in the shadows are other hidden players with their own lethal agendas and, from Geneva to Washington, Berlin to New York City, a deadly conspiracy is coalescing. With only a few hours to go, and the future of millions in the balance, she must uncover the truth behind the legend of the last spymaster.

Members Reviews:

fast and furious

I had never heard of this author before this book, and was reluctant to purchase "The Last Spymaster". I saw the review by David Morrell, and decided to go with it. The book took off after the first few minutes, and the action was fast and furious straight through to the end. I have listened to 200+ audio books, and I'd rank this one near the top for entertainment. The narration was excellent. I don't typically expect spy novels to be particulary deep. I just want to be entertained while i exercise and drive. This novel succeeded in entertaining me from beginning to end, and is well worth the money and time spent.

What a disappointment

The premise of the story has promise, but the writing is bland and repetitive. Apparently, while the English language has dozens of euphemisms for "kill", the author only believes in two; "scrub" and "wipe". I'm not kidding; you could use this audiobook as a Forever Alone drinking game; one shot for "wipe", two shots for "scrub".

All the characters are annoying; the protagonist is supposed to be a tough-as-nails wild woman, but really, she's pretty much always holding back tears, or has a lump in her throat. The titular spymaster is running for his life, but he and the wild woman develop an almost instant affection for each other, and over the course of about a day and a half, are hugging each other. This is normal in adventure romances, but this book isn't supposed to be that.

The dialogue is so brutally trite in places that I actually flinched in embarrassment. Like the thug who screams "I'll get you, Tice! I'lllllll gettt youuuuuu!" while shaking his fist in the air.

And then, ye gods, there is the narration! I'm sure that the narrator is a nice person, but this isn't his best work. There are probably a twenty characters that exchange dialogue throughout the book, but only two of them sound different than anyone else. Oh, except the Arab characters, who all sound like pirates. "Allahu Akbar, argghhh!"

I wish I had my credit back.

fantastic and fast paced!

This was a very good book . excellently written , fast paced , and totally enjoyable. The characters were well developed and the plot believable. Gayle has written three of the Robert ludlum books in the "covert one" series and her continuations of his work were much better than the other authors that tried to continue the series.This book is a testament that she has learned from the master from this genre.

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Title: A Most Wanted Man

Author: John le Carré

Narrator: Roger Rees

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-07-08

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 367 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

Annabel, an idealistic young German civil rights lawyer, determines to save Issa from deportation. Soon her client's survival becomes more important to her than her own career -- or safety. In pursuit of Issa's mysterious past, she confronts the incongruous Tommy Brue, the sixty-year-old scion of Brue Frères, a failing British bank based in Hamburg.

Annabel, Issa and Brue form an unlikely alliance -- and a triangle of impossible loves is born. Meanwhile, scenting a sure kill in the "War on Terror," the rival spies of Germany, England and America converge upon the innocents.

Thrilling, compassionate, peopled with characters the reader never wants to let go, A Most Wanted Man is a work of deep humanity and uncommon relevance to our times.

Members Reviews:

No oomph

I remember John Le Carre's books not only were historically fascinating and accurate but had some oomph that kept you compelled to keep reading -- no matter what the tale. This story dragged on and on and the ending was so flimsy - as one writer said, it left things undone. The narrator is great, the story thin and ends with a whimper.

Le Carre's Back!

While I don't think John le Carre will ever regain the level of the George Smiley books -- that Cold War is over, and his generation is gone -- he does seem to have finally found his metier again with this book, after floundering around for some years with very inferior books like "A Constant Gardener".

The fact is that there IS another major threat to the West, and if it's not exactly a "cold" war, it's not a "hot" one either, and it is just as ideologically driven as the Communist threat was. Le Carre not only makes his Moslem protagonists seem sympathetic, he shows just how the various intelligence services are also driven by ideology: the supremacy of human intelligence vs. technological innovation, the patient researcher vs the "cowboy", the runner of agents who want to turn potential sources to his benefit against those who want to simply quarantine and neutralize the "enemy".

The narration is excellent. Very highly recommended.

A disappointment

Roger Rees' narration is marvelous. The book, though, is a disappointment. Thin, predictable, with major lapses in logic. I nearly abandoned it in the middle but persevered to the weak ending.

le Carre/Rees a Winning Pair

I expected the excellence of prose that always comes with le Carre, but was delighted (tho not surprised) at the high degree of drama and humor and tragedy delivered by Roger Rees as narrator. Highly, highly recommended!

Sophisticated Spy

Urbane, complex, probing, and compelling. John Le Carr? has not lost his stuff. The best spy books always make you remember why spies are necessary, even if we'd all like to pretend that they aren't real or that governments could possibly conduct all relations with foreign powers in the open.

This is an up to the minute tale that forces the listener to confront the moral dilemmas of the characters as if they were one's own. Trying to do the right thing is not always as simple as it seems. What if the right thing to do is inhumane?

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Title: Rules of Deception

Subtitle: Dr. Jonathan Ransom, Book 1

Author: Christopher Reich

Narrator: Paul Michael

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-08

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 363 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

Twenty-four hours later, Jonathan receives an envelope addressed to his wife containing two baggage-claim tickets. Puzzled, he journeys to a remote railway station only to find himself in a life-and-death struggle for his wife's possessions. In the aftermath of the assault, he discovers that his attackers - one dead, the other mortally wounded - were, in fact, Swiss police officers. More frightening still is evidence of an extraordinary act of betrayal that leaves Jonathan stunned.

Suddenly the subject of an international manhunt and the target of a master assassin, Jonathan is forced on the run. His only chance at survival lies in uncovering the devastating truth behind the secret his wife kept from him and in stopping the terrifying conspiracy that threatens to bring the world to the brink of annihilation. Step by step, he is drawn deeper into a world of spies, high-tech weaponry, and global terrorism - a world where no one is whom they appear to be and where the end always justifies the means.

Rules of Deception is a brilliantly conceived, twisting tale of intrigue and deceit written by the master of the espionage thriller for the 21st century.

Members Reviews:

Too fantastic

A fast paced spy novel set in the post 9/11 world of terrorists and fanatics. The story becomes more and more unbelievable as it unfolds while at the same time becoming more predictable near the end. No real suspense in the conclusion. The narrator did the Da Vinci Code but stumbles occassionally with regional American accents. Overall, OK if you can suspend your disbelief.

A fine action yarn

A somewhat believable "action hero". With foibles and weaknesses that are merely not quite believable. (In other words, not completely ostentatious like Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan.)

I personally found the author's liberal bias a bit annoying, but perhaps others will find that refreshing.

The plot was fairly fresh for a genre that tends to be somewhat overworked.

Excellent good light entertainment. Nothing profound.

I've listen to it more than once, and will probably listen to it again in the future.

Captivating Book, Even Better Narration

Would you listen to Rules of Deception again? Why?

I've already listened twice, and I'm sure I'll listen again. I found it to be an engaging "read" with a few real surprise twists that I certainly didn't see coming.

Is it a little farfetched at times? Yes - but most good thrillers are to some degree. For the most I think Reich does a good job in making it believable (mountaineering and medicine aside, since I don't know enough about either one to judge the validity of one reviewers criticisms).

Paul Michael? Absolutely terrific - perhaps the best narrated book I've ever listened too. His pacing and timing are dead on, and his ability to do so many characters so well really makes the book "come to life" as it were

A great new thriller series

I purchased this book during the 1st in a Series Sale. Its so great to discover a new author and lead characters - Christopher Reich and his character, Dr. Johnathon Ransom are no exception. The narration is also great - to date I haven't experienced a narrator who could master so many different accents and dialects.

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Title: Devil May Care

Author: Sebastian Faulks

Narrator: Tristan Layton

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-08

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 57 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

An Algerian drug runner is savagely executed in the desolate outskirts of Paris. This seemingly isolated event leads to the recall of Agent 007 from his sabbatical in Rome and his return to the world of intrigue and danger where he is most at home.

The head of MI6, M, assigns him to shadow the mysterious Dr. Julius Gorner, a power-crazed pharmaceutical magnate, whose wealth is exceeded only by his greed. Gorner has lately taken a disquieting interest in opiate derivatives, both legal and illegal, and this urgently bears looking into.

Bond finds a willing accomplice in the shape of a glamorous Parisian named Scarlett Papava. He will need her help in a life-and-death struggle with his most dangerous adversary yet, as a chain of events threatens to lead to global catastrophe. A British airliner goes missing over Iraq. The thunder of a coming war echoes in the Middle East. And a tide of lethal narcotics threatens to engulf a Great Britain in the throes of the social upheavals of the late 60s.

Picking up where Ian Fleming left off, Sebastian Faulks takes Bond back to the height of the Cold War - but also shows Bond facing dangers with a powerful relevance to our own times.

Critic Reviews:

"With a delivery as cool and dry as a vodka martini, Tristan Layton brings numerous international locals and characters to life in Faulks' homage to Ian Fleming's greatest creation, James Bond." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Tristan must have never watched a Bond movie.

What did you love best about Devil May Care?

The story is good and it is in the style of the Ian Fleming books. Better than many others I have read. However, the narrator must have never watched a Bond Flim, he miss pronounced Felix Leiter's name; to be fair, he pronounces has it should be, but all movies it is lighter.

Loved it!

What made the experience of listening to Devil May Care the most enjoyable?

Loved the story. Wish it wouldn't end.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It wasn't a suspenseful as some I had listened to before, but it was still entertaining.

Attention Grabbing

A well written adventure, for most of the novel, you will feel like you are right there. Spoiler alert, no real twist... The only disappointing part.

Very close to the original

If you enjoy the original Bond books you will definitely enjoy this. I recomend it to fill your Fleming fix. This is definitely one of the post Fleming books that will pull you in and make you think you are listening to the Bond of old.

Worst James Bond story EVAR!

Would you try another book from Sebastian Faulks and/or Tristan Layton?

No.

Would you ever listen to anything by Sebastian Faulks again?

No. The story makes no sense, the characters' motives are absurd and James Bond behaves like the worst, most incompetent spy in the world. Its a terrible story, and screams with the most clichéd Bond stereotypes of a philandering drunk out to use violence to perpetuate western hegemony. Ian Fleming was no Shakespeare, but at least his stories made sense, his characters were plausible, and Bond had redeeming qualities. This is just rubbish.

What didnt you like about Tristan Laytons performance?

His foreign accents are pitiful. If you're that bad at accents, don't try. Just read the characters naturally.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

Save your money or credits.

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Title: The Thirty-Nine Steps

Author: John Buchan

Narrator: David Thorn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-24-07

Publisher: Alcazar AudioWorks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 72 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

Richard Hannay, Buchan's hero in this 1915 thriller, stumbles across a terrorist plot to destabilize Europe. A British spy in the mold of James Bond, Hannay is an action man with a polished veneer. After a series of murders, Hannay takes up the cause when he has to go on the run. A thrilling series of events come to an exciting conclusion.

Table of Contents

Chapter 01: The Man who Died

Chapter 02: The Milkman Sets Out on his Travels

Chapter 03: The Adventure of the Literary Innkeeper

Chapter 04: The Adventure of the Radical Candidate

Chapter 05: The Adventure of the Spectacled Roadman

Chapter 06: The Adventure of the Bald Archaeologist

Chapter 07: The Dry-Fly Fisherman

Chapter 08: The Coming of the Black Stone

Chapter 09: The Thirty-Nine Steps

Chapter 10: Various Parties Converging on the Sea

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (18751940) was a Scottish novelist, short story writer, biographer and diplomat.

The son of a minister, Buchan was born in Perth, Scotland. Buchan won a scholarship to Oxford and received several writing awards while studying classic literature. After traveling the world in diplomatic circles, Buchan spent time running for political office, publishing a magazine and writing spy thrillers.

After success in many arenas and impressing many with his contributions during WWI, Buchan was appointed Governor General of Canada, where he served until his death. Upon his appointment, King George V, made him a peer.

Members Reviews:

Great classic mystery

THE 39 STEPS by John Buchan is a classic mystery of political intrigue before WW2. Richard Hannay is feeling board in his apartment in London, when a stranger comes telling a tale of intrigue. When a dead body is found in Hannay's room, he goes on the run, trying to fulfill the stranger's job of warning the English of impending danger. Many close calls keep Hannay on the run. He much convince the powers to be that he knows what he's talking about, and catch the German spies.

This classic mystery is well done with many small adventures with every chapter. Hitchcock did a great film of this story of espionage and intrigue just before WW2. Without car chases, computers, or many fire arms that make up so many of today's thrillers, Buchan maintains a great pace in this book.

Enjoyable escapism

I enjoyed the historical setting/context of this book.

I thought the reader did an excellent job.

I could well imagine Alfred Hitchcock making a movie of this -- it was fast paced and mysterious in parts.

I could detect influences of other writers of his time.

The only complaint I might make is that the book's plot is a bit simplistic compared to contemporary suspense work.

Excellent Classic Espionage Novel

Most of us who love mystery and suspense stories have seen at least one dramatization of "The Fifteen Steps", whether on stage, in movies, or in a television performance. The productions I have seen have made substantial changes from the original book.

For instance, those productions all left me with the impression that the story was set in the period immediately before World War Two. In fact, this story was published in 1915 and involves the period leading up to the FIRST World War.

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Title: Greenmantle

Author: John Buchan

Narrator: Robert Whitfield

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-11-07

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 89 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

He is joined by three others: John S. Blenkiron, an American who is determined to battle the Kaiser; Peter Pienaar, an old Boer Scout; and the colorful Sandy Arbuthnot, who is modeled on Lawrence of Arabia. Disguised, they travel through Germany to Constantinople and the Russian border to confront their enemies, the hideous Stumm and the evil beauty Hilda von Einem. Their success or failure could change the outcome of the First World War.

Critic Reviews:

"A specialty audio, a classic, but definitely a 'thinking man's audio'. Bravo, Blackstone Audiobooks, which seems to find these gems!" (KLIATT)

Members Reviews:

Incredible!

This book had me sucked in. I couldn't stop listening to it. I started it whilst I was doing a few long drives for work, and had to take it out of the car and finish it up at home.

It may take a little time to adjust to the English, if you are not English. I've lived a fair amount of time in England, Canada and Australia, so it was not a problem. The book was published in 1916, so the language mirrors the time.

Christopher Hitchens Was Right

At least about this. Between Kipling and Fleming, he said, stands John Buchan, the father of the modern spy thriller.

A nameless reviewer at Library Journal agrees:

Buchan essentially invented the espionage novel with his Richard Hannay yarns.

And a nameless officer serving on the Western Front offered this endorsement:

It is just the kind of fiction for here. One wants something to engross the attention without tiring the mind. The story is greatly appreciated in the midst of mud and rain and shells, and all that could make trench life depressing.

Finally, this bit of analysis from someone at the London Telegraph:

[Buchan] understood that in a thrillerwhat matters above all is to keep the reader focused on what is going to happen nextIt doesnt matter that the reader has no clue where he is being taken or, when he gets there, how the thing happened as it did. All that matters is that once youve started, you cant put the book down.

The viewpoint that fascinates me most is from that line officer at the front. Granted, his comment was about Buchans first thriller, The 39 Steps. Nevertheless, it could apply the Greenmantle as well. Its a neat trick to write about mortal danger in such a way that men who are living with it on a daily basis dont chuck your book into No Mans Land or, more likely, use it as necessary paper. Buchan treads a fine line when talking about the war. Yes, he and his hero are patriotic. There's a touch of Rupert Brooke here--soldiering is described as the only proper work for a man. And it's hard to remember, living as we do at the other end of the disastrous 20th Century, that soldiers cherish the camaraderie that grows out of shared dangers. Membership in a group of fighters who are also friends and the death of some of those friends makes war personal. It is a job that has to be done and there is pride in doing it well. Duty, as Ulysses Grant said, can be a beautiful word. War is hell but it isn't always hell. At the same time, Buchan and his protagonist never flinch from admitting the ghastliness of the Western Front. It's a combination of idealism and realism that may have done much to brace spirits at Ypres and the Somme--probably because it accurately reflected the general attitude in the trenches.

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Title: The Lions of Lucerne

Author: Brad Thor

Narrator: Armand Schultz

Format: Abridged

Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-07-06

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 577 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the unthinkable has just become a nightmarish reality. Thirty Secret Service agents have been viciously executed, and the vacationing president of the United States has kidnapped by one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the Middle East, the dreaded Fatah.

But one man, surviving agent and ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath, doesn't believe the Fatah is responsible for the attack. Driven by his professional code of duty and honor, and a solemn vow to avenge his fallen comrades, Scot creates his own rules to get some answers. But his search for the truth raises the blood pressure of his superiors... and casts his own life in mortal jeopardy. The deadly machinations have been set in motion by a shadowy coalition, comprising some of the highest-ranking officials in government and business, men who operate above the law, men who realize the threat Scot poses to their hidden agenda...men who will do anything to stop him.

Now framed for murder and on the run, Scot goes for broke and takes his own brand of justice to the unlikeliest place of all, the towering mountains of Switzerland. It is there that he finds an improbable ally in the beautiful Claudia Mueller of the Swiss Federal Attorney's Office. Together they must brave the subzero temperatures and sheer heights of treacherous Mount Pilatus, and enter the den of the most notorious team of professional killers the world has ever known.

Critic Reviews:

"A hot read for a winter night." (People) "High-voltage entertainment reminiscent of Robert Ludlum and David Morrell." (Library Journal) "Schultz's tense, energetic reading builds the suspense and drama of Thor's strong plot of political intrigue and international terrorism. Fans of Ludlum-style action will be satisfied." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

What is Missing?

I thought the narration was very good and I liked the story - I just found myself thinking something was missing. MY mistake. I try never to order abridged versions of anything. In haste I got an abridged story. Otherwise I enjoyed the book. These books are difficult to reduce down and it was probably done as well as it could be done. Sooooo - recognizing it as an abridged edition, I would rate it quite good.

Great listen

This was my first book by Brad Thor and I was pleasantly suprised. Very much a thriller to the very end. I'm looking for the rest of Thor's series with Harvath to see what new trouble he can get into.

Great Story

Brad Thor is an amazing writer and Armand Schultz really brings this book to life.

Disappoint

I heard of brad thor from a friend and thought I'd take a listen but sadly I didn't like the book and the narrator was not exactally good at keeping the audience pulled into the whole story cause it sounded like he was bored.

You cant go wrong with Brad Thor

My first book was Full Black, i loved it.

The Lions of Lucerne was just as good. I am a Thor fan for life now.

I dont have a long drawn out review for this book other than to say it was great. It moved quickly and had some great twists.

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Title: The Quiller Memorandum

Author: Adam Hall

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-23-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 139 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

Your name is Quiller. You are the hero of an extraordinary novel that shows how a spy works, how messages are coded and decoded, how contacts are made, how a man reacts under the influence of truth drugs, and that traces the story of a vastly complex, entertaining, convincing, and sinister plot.

Critic Reviews:

"You can't go wrong with Quiller." (Harper's)

"Tense, intelligent, harsh, surprising." (New York Times)

"A model of breathless excitement." (New Yorker)

Members Reviews:

An entertaining thriller

This is a well-read, well-written thriller that holds up to repeated listens. It is a classic of post-war espionage, full of twists and turns.

It starts off pretty strong, but...

I enjoyed roughly the first half of The Quiller Memorandum immensely. It's set in Berlin during the mid 1960s, a setting ripe with intrigue, and it gets off to a fast start. But about half way through the story, an element of overdone psychoanalysis intrudes on the narrative and it just goes on and on until you begin to wonder which word applies best, tiresome or wearisome. (I say wearisome is worse than tiresome, and thus is the better choice.)

The performance by Simon Prebble is top notch.

Great Fiction

Would you listen to The Quiller Memorandum again? Why?

Yes. Mostly because the story is so good but also because the performance is near perfect. The narrarator did an absolutely splendid job bringing this story to life. I don't think this would have been as good an experience without the narrarator.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main, character, of course. Everyone else is a bad guy.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebbles other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first time listening to Mr. Pebble. I would absolutely listen to him again. He is fantastic.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Very entertaining story. Marvelous performance.

Story stops with an interesting premise

The idea of a post WWII Germany and hunting for evil Nazi's had potential. The book however realized none of it as it rambles through a self reflective narrative that neither tells a story nor develops any characters.

90% of the time the story deals with what the main character is thinking. It never seems to develop into a plot to follow nor enjoy.

This easily is my least favorite Audible download in 3 years. Maybe if you have enjoyed other of this authors books you may enjoy it, but I found it uncompelling and tedious.

Overwrought

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Seems like it was trying to be literary, so lots of stream of consciousness and Freudian. Seemed like dreck.

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Title: The Last Supper

Author: Charles McCarry

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-07-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 173 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

To Paul Christopher, the world of espionage had become a region of the mad, in which men and women lived without conviction and were compelled by a craving for conspiracy. But now, he has to find the "mole" in the Outfit and demand justice from enemies, past and present. As he follows the twisting path of this secret American intelligence group, he discovers a trail of betrayal and violence that leads backward to the horrors of the Nazi era and plunges forward beyond the Vietnam War's labyrinth of lies.

Critic Reviews:

"The best spy novelists were once spies themselves, including le Carre, Greene, McCarry, and even Maugham." (The New York Times Book Review)

"McCarry is an ace spy novelist." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Rich and intricate

Not your typical spy thriller, this novel has richly detailed characters and an intricate, multi-generational plot. If you're looking for a quick thrill type listen, you won't find it here. But what you will find is satisfying and engrossing; one of those novels that leaves not only the lingering taste of it's story, but also the long shadow of it's depth.

absolutely outstanding

If I were reading The Last Supper I wouldn't be able to put it down. Because I listened to it, I didn't hear much of what anyone said to me for the 16 hours it played. It's very, very good.

Boring, boring, boring

This book is a bore. The first half focuses on the history of the main character and doesn't advance the story one bit. I couldn't wait to finish the book and had to resort to listening to podcasts about Nazi infiltration into our society to break up the tedium. The main character is so uninteresting that when he turns sideways, he disappears. I found the same problem with The Miernik Dossier. Also very boring and not worth the wimpy twist at the end. Some people have praised McCarry as the greatest spy novelist ever. Come on, compared to John LeCarre, his stuff is a D-. If you're Jonesing for a spy novel, read Smiley's Game.

Beautiful, sensitive, epic novel

Would you listen to The Last Supper again? Why?

I have! It is such a thick and nuanced story that each reading opens up new treasures.

Have you listened to any of Stefan Rudnickis other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. His voice is not pleasant to me, and I had to force myself to continue listening the first time I heard him, but he is a very good reader, and I have (almost) become used to him. In fact, hearing his voice in other books stirs up the enormously good memories I made reading this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but the scope of it made that impossible. One has to pay attention to the plethora of detail.

Any additional comments?

This is one of my all time favorite novels. It is basically a family epic underlying a spy saga. I was attracted and engaged by the characters and the sensitivity of the characterizations and plot line. I felt lost and sad when the book ended and missed the characters. The story is unusual and exciting and thoroughly engrossing, with not a few surprises along the way. I was emotionally moved by the events of the book.

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Title: The Ambler Warning

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Robert Ludlum

Narrator: Scott Sowers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-05

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1025 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Espionage

Publisher's Summary:

On Parrish Island, a restricted island off the coast of Virginia, is a little-known and never-visited psychiatric facility. There, far from prying eyes, the government stores former intelligence employees whose psychiatric states make them a danger to their own government, people whose ramblings might endanger ongoing operations or prove dangerously inconvenient. One of these employees, former Consular Operations agent Hal Ambler, is kept heavily medicated and closely watched. But there's one difference between Hal and the other patients, Hal isn't crazy. With the help of a sympathetic nurse, Hal manages to clear his mind of the drug-induced haze and then pulls off a daring escape. Now he's out to discover who stashed him here and why, but the world he returns to isn't the one he remembers. Friends and longtime associates don't remember him, there are no official records of Hal Ambler, and, when he first sees himself in the mirror, the face that looks back at him is not the one he knows as his own.

©2005 Myn Pyn, LLC (P)2005 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic Reviews:

"Ludlum packs more suspense into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined." (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

What Were They Thinking?

Could have been a great ride. If the narrator was asked to read this

book in this manner, he should have turned the job down. Seems like

an interesting story but my mind wandered so much due to narration not holding my attenton, could not wait until it was over

Listener be warned

I have loved Robert Ludlum novels since my introduction to his writing in the early 80's. I have travelled to exotic locales, fought enemies of mankind, and loved with all the passion of his characters as they triumphed in their pursuits. But, the Ambler Warning is an utter disappointment. Be warned, this is not up to the character or caliber of Robert Ludlum. Perhaps he has lost his touch.

Tragic!

In the tradition of Ludlumese style, plot and execution, this latest book could have been more fun and enjoyable to hear had it not been for a choice of the narrator whose effeminate voice and poor elocution was a grave sacrilege to Mr. Ludlum and the eloquence of the previous narrators Erik Bergmann, Patrick Larkin and most specially Paul Michael. Mr. Sowers spared me from taking Ambien. I had difficulty discriminating the characters since there was not much difference in the decibels of their corresponding voices. It was monotonous.

Don't worry. I continue to be mistified by Mr. Ludlum's style and poetic flair despite my utter disappointment with Mr. Sowers. I just hope that for our sake, you reinstate Mr. Paul Michael. The way he narrated the Tristan Betrayal, Sigma Protocol and Janson Directive still reverberate in my mind

The Ambler Warning

A typical Ludlum, fast paced and exciting and because of that a lack of reality. The audio was quite good but the narrator lacked the ability to make the different characters stand out through their different voices. This genre works best in books, then on film and less so on audio tape in my view. It did help me get through long drives across the southern U.S. deserts!

Are there really people who are as skilled and knowledgeable as Hal Ambler? The "Jason Bourne" type character has been well used by Ludlum albeit highly successfully.