From the opening lines, Michael Jayston immerses listeners in the heat of modern-day Nairobi and the moldering colonialism of the British diplomatic service in Africa. Tragedy and scandal surround the murder of the activist wife of British diplomat Justin Quayle. Jayston effortlessly makes transitions in time and memory and switches in and out of the interior monologues as the secrets and lies unfold for listeners. Jayston is simply perfect. He accentuates the subtleties and brilliance of le Carré's storytelling. Despite the excellence of the author's own readings--one of the great listening experiences--the abridgments often lose the details and introspection that make le Carré's work so fascinating. Nothing is lost here, however, and Jayston's performance should not be missed.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 17 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
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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