This audiobook, narrated by Andrew B. Wehrlen, pulls listeners into espionage and a forbidden relationship amid the political upheaval and violence of contemporary Syria. CIA case officer Sam Joseph has a history of working in the Middle East and understands the dynamics and dangers of the region. While Mariam Haddad works in the Syrian Palace, her family is divided--some work for Assad's regime, and others protest his brutality. When Sam is asked to recruit Mariam, they embark on an affair, further increasing the danger for both of them. Wehrlen transitions well between characters, and his pacing and emphasis match the plot's urgency. With insights into both the current climate in Syria and the life of a spy, this is a must-listen.
Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781666153002
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The prospect that the implausible threats that drive the plot might be plausible makes this listening experience unnerving.
Narrator Eunice Wong masterfully voices countless characters from around the globe in this intense, nonstop thriller. Food blogger Alice Li and her mother, Vivian, a prominent Chinese dissident, find themselves drawn into saving the world from a mysterious threat that appears to be coming from China. The listener is kept off balance as the threats escalate and it’s not clear whom Alice and her mother can trust. As the perspectives shift frequently and scenes move among various locations in the United States and China, listeners may be challenged to keep up, despite Wong’s strong differentiation of characters.
The prospect that the implausible threats that drive the plot might be plausible makes this listening experience unnerving.Pub Date: May 12, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 10 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250445674
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
Brick’s masterful performance is Berry’s secret weapon for converting print to cinematic storytelling.
In Berry’s latest international mystery, operatives Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt travel to Sweden to help locate the king’s younger sister, who has been kidnapped. The ransom demand? A codex known as The Devil’s Bible, which was taken from Bohemia 400 years earlier as war contraband. Narrator Scott Brick tackles multiple accents as the Swedes, Russians, Americans, and Czechs compete to possess this Bible, leading to a volatile and deadly pursuit. Brick’s capable transitions from male to female, spy to assassin, and ally to enemy, no matter the representative country, are seamless and focused, allowing the listener to absorb the fast-paced, layered plot and accelerated action.
Brick’s masterful performance is Berry’s secret weapon for converting print to cinematic storytelling.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654057
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
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