Patrick Lawlor delivers on every level in this fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway’s 1940 amateur spy ring, which was sanctioned by the U.S. and operated from his Cuban ranch. Lawlor captures a broad cast of characters such as fishermen, prostitutes, priests, orphans, and millionaires, providing an array distinctive voices and accents throughout. His depiction of FBI agent Joe Lucas, sent by FBI director Hoover to win the great writer’s trust, recounts the initial stages of their deadly game of wartime espionage. Then a crucial piece of information is found, and the chase begins. While the book’s portrayals of Hemingway’s salty conversations leave the impression that the great writer’s speech was pretty vulgar, the gripping story makes this a first-rate thriller.
Pub Date: June 7, 2011
Duration: 21 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455810505
Publisher: Brilliance 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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