From the authors of COBRA II, an authoritative history of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, comes a work that details the American experience in that country from 2003-2012. It's an exhaustive account that weds the best investigative journalism with military history. Narrator Rob Shapiro reminds one of the military establishment that fought the war. He does his job well, reading in a clear, deep voice with solid pacing. He sticks to the topic at hand, approaching the book as information that needs to be disseminated and marching inexorably towards his stated goal, which is to move this massive narrative along despite its obvious obstacles, such as monotony and heft. Both Shapiro and the book itself are best heard in shifts so that the listener can absorb the lessons of one of our most contentious armed engagements.
Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307970787
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Macintyre’s latest is one of his best.
If there’s a branch of history devoted to espionage, Macintyre is its unchallenged dean. As narrator, Macintyre is conversational, confiding, unaffected, and companionable. He sounds like he’s been through it all. His popular narratives, among them A Spy Among Friends (2014) and Operation Mincemeat (2010), excel in precision of detail and adherence to fact, which is indeed often stranger than fiction. What novelist would conceive of a master spy with erectile dysfunction? This true history of a British spy roping in a Soviet spy in revolutionary Tehran is a primer in spycraft and agent management and offers an entirely new perspective on the Islamic Revolution and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Macintyre’s latest is one of his best.Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
Duration: 17 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406906
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.
Journalists are trained to look for and deliver facts, and Irish reporter Hayden did that, but she also did something more: She looked for love amid war. Narrator Aoife McMahon, with her delightful Irish accent, brings us the stories Hayden found while reporting the news. She explores war's impact on people and their relationships. She tells stories of the courageous soldier in Ukraine who confesses discomfort during his home visits and queer people in Ghana, where their love could have deadly consequences. From battle-scarred countries the world over, including Uganda, Iraq, and Rwanda, McMahon relates these stories with a beautiful dignity. They reveal terror and horror but also unexpected love, compassion, and survival.
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797198644
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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