AudioFile Golden Voice Simon Vance navigates former double agent/journalist John Russell through his eighth adventure. It's the bad old days of the 1950s. The Cold War is heating up, Russia and the U.S. are at loggerheads in postwar Berlin, McCarthy's witch hunt is in full swing in America, and espionage is rampant. Russell's partner, successful TV actress Effi Koenen, is to be honored at a Berlin film festival. Despite the political turmoil, they decide to return to Berlin, their former home. Vance's calm, even presentation underplays the danger Russell faces from the KGB agents he betrayed and from those named in his current exposé of companies that worked with the Nazis during WWII. Vance's deft performance keeps things edgy and listeners engaged.
Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798891783751
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henning’s sparkling performance is appropriately outrageous.
Daniel Henning is simply delightful in Rudnick’s hilarious venture into satirical espionage. Struggling gay actor Andrew Birnbaum is approached by the Tuxedo Society, an “off the books, queer special ops unit,” to become its newest member. What follows is a series of Bond-style adventures, from saving the gorgeous First Lady to recovering stolen jewels. There is a wide variety of ridiculous special gadgets, among them a deadly yoga mat, exploding candy bars, and a backpack that expands into an inflatable raft. Henning picks up on every nuance without missing a beat. His characterization of Andrew is flawless, while his voices for Andrew’s parents and his Tuxedo Society compatriots are wonderfully campy. Warning! This audiobook may cause uncontrollable laughter.
Henning’s sparkling performance is appropriately outrageous.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668149171
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
Fontana’s strong performance is the perfect vehicle for this tale of modern-day spycraft.
Disgraced former CIA operative Ari Falk’s self-imposed exile in the Republic of Georgia ends abruptly, and he finds himself at the heart of a mission to save the world from the leader of an extremist group intent on changing the balance of political power in Europe. Narrator Santino Fontana demonstrates a wide variety of accents, bringing to life characters from across the globe. His careful characterizations ensure the polished flow of the plot, and his skills are highlighted during dialogue-heavy scenes, where he seamlessly moves between characters and accents. Fontana’s timing and spot-on pacing keep the tension building as the twisting plot unfolds.
Fontana’s strong performance is the perfect vehicle for this tale of modern-day spycraft.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668123232
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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