In this riveting audiobook, newly minted CIA agent Melvina Donleavy confronts KGB chief Martin Kavalchuk, also known as the Black Wolf while she and her team are on a mission to Soviet Belarus. The tables turn when the Black Wolf uses Donleavy to help identify a serial killer. Narrator Eva Kaminsky's performance captures Donleavy's overall confidence and her trepidation at being unable to carry out her daily routine, which is necessary to maintain her ability to remember every face forever. Kaminsky paces her delivery well, particularly the sections that showcase Donleavy and the Black Wolf. Kaminsky's narration skills are at their peak with her portrayals of the various KGB agents who must tread lightly to avoid Kavalchuk's wrath.
Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668619971
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 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
Lakin makes this globe-trotting thriller feel breathlessly personal.
Christine Lakin's narration transforms an espionage thriller into a taut psychological journey. Lakin captures Anna Vaughn's evolution from a B-list actress to a reluctant spy with remarkable vocal precision. When Anna goes undercover to rescue her missing friend, Lakin doesn't rely on dramatic vocal flourishes; instead, she conveys tension through subtle shifts in pacing and breath control that mirror Anna's mounting fear. Her portrayal of FBI handler Kevin Matthews balances authority with ambiguity, keeping listeners guessing about his true loyalties. Lakin maintains clarity during the fraught action sequences without sacrificing urgency, making combat choreography comprehensible. Her vocal distinctions among supporting characters, from menacing oligarchs to Anna's troubled sister, feel organic.
Lakin makes this globe-trotting thriller feel breathlessly personal.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063393073
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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