The plot is a solid gold thriller that will keep listeners engaged.
Narrator Joe Barrett turns his many years of experience with this character into a finely honed performance in the latest Joe DeMarco thriller. DeMarco is a fixer for his employer, former Speaker of the House John Mahoney, and Barrett’s easy rhythm and slightly hoarse delivery give him the aura of a seasoned Mafia consigliere. Barrett enlivens all the key players in this intricate cat-and-mouse story. Standouts in his capable narration include Mahoney’s Irish lilt; the nasal twang of the wife of one of Mahoney’s rivals, who is suspected of delivering secrets to the Chinese; and the arrogance of the ex-CIA agent who tips off Mahoney to the intrigue.
The plot is a solid gold thriller that will keep listeners engaged.Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 8 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668160978
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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