Narrating his thriller, author Dan Fesperman captures all the momentum and sly tension between comedy and suspense that animates it. Hal Knight, a disgraced comedian/movie star/congressman, is drawn out of seclusion by an invitation from his one enduring fan, a notorious Eastern European dictator. Soon after, he's approached by an American intelligence team with a plan. Part social satire, part spy-jinks, this propulsive story is topped by an expertly staged scene that plays on the lyrics of the Beatles' song "Paperback Writer." As narrator, Fesperman is more than equal to his task, with a gravelly newscaster's voice that gives his storyline heft and a mastery of character voices the equal of most professionals. As a storyteller, he's at the top of his craft.
Pub Date: July 22, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217078127
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
John Sanford is back with another psychological thriller in his Prey series. Surgeon, psychopath and serial killer Bekker is on the loose again after the easiest jailbreak in recent memory. Ken Howard's reading moves along with all the brooding energy a reader could want from a suspense book. His narration is deep, clear and well-suited to the gravelly voices of retired detective Lucas Davenport and the other cops. While Howard manages good dialects and shifts in character, his female voices leave a lot to be desired. For the most part, the abridgment gleefully throws logic and characterization overboard in favor of thrills, but the basic flavor of many characters is still fairly well maintained.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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