In 1982 Frederick Forsyth set a standard for the international thriller with his now classic The Day of the Jackal. His novels since have been complex and compelling, but not until Avenger has Forsyth crafted as chilling a tale. Eric Conger guides us through the convergent subplots around the death of a young American aid worker and the circuitous route of retribution set in motion by his tycoon grandfather. Conger's cool detachment helps the listener follow the many threads of the story while driving the suspense. His characters--from ex-Vietnam tunnel rat Cal Dexter to Serbian warlord Zoran Zilic--are clear; his accents are expert and his pacing as perfect as Forsyth's. The settings change from Serbia to a South American jungle, flashback to Vietnam, pass through CIA headquarters and bucolic New Jersey, and end on September 10, 2001. Forsyth's attention to detail and calculated coincidence are handled with finesse. Eric Conger's success with nonfiction narrative serves him well. He's able to move listeners through the historical detail on Vietnam and Serbia without ever letting the intrigue lag. His performance gives the difficult blend of involvement and objectivity that highlights the keen suspense.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
C.J. Box writes about life in wild Wyoming, short stories of people living a rugged life by choice or by circumstance. David Chandler narrates in a rough-edged whiskey voice that suggests summer heat, bitter winters, and windswept prairies, guiding the listener through 10 adventures of men like Fish and Game Officer Joe Pickett. Chandler brings the listener into this strange world where, more often than not, men have to create their own justice. His performance of the economical stories, some rarely seen, is perfect. The tale of the frozen body of a Native American basketball player turned speed freak, her arm reaching through the ice of a lake in a final jump shot, is one of the most fascinating in the collection.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470392796
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dirk Pitt, intrepid adventurer and master explorer, searches the Sahara for the deadly toxin that is killing marine life world wide. This audio, abridged by Harold Schmidt, lacks most of the adventure, as well as the humor, of Cussler's novels. Narrator Tom Wopat brings an unconventional vocal slant to the ever-cocky Pitt. Using lots of vocal characterization, Wopat brings across the smug brashness of Pitt and handles dialogue briskly. Enhanced by sound effects and small pieces of music, this is an interesting and perplexing mystery.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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