Pierce Cravens is an accomplished narrator, but even his best efforts prove insufficient to make this book an enjoyable audio experience. Although offering an interesting premise, a young author seeks to solve a thirty-year-old mystery and clear the name of a beloved mentor, Dicker's lengthy text involving improbable plot twists and stereotypical characters causes more confusion than intrigue. Cravens's brisk pace and clarity of tone are helpful in advancing the action, and his range of accents and pitch allows personalities to develop, but even with this assist the story fails. However, it’s the stilted dialogue that grates most harshly and proves a challenge even Cravens cannot surmount. Perhaps a victim of poor translation (from French), this novel is not an enjoyable listen.
Pub Date: May 27, 2014
Duration: 18 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780698176409
Publisher: Penguin 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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