Cornell physics professor Paul McEuen’s debut is a gripping biotech thriller. After a sluggish start, the story, which features spider-like nano-robots, picks up its pace dramatically, building to a climax that is both satisfying and surprising. Rob Shapiro’s narration parallels the novel’s development, beginning slowly and then picking up steam as the story kicks into high gear. Shapiro’s use of different voices is effective, particularly those of Orchid, a female assassin, and Hitoshi Kitano, who viewed Japan's surrender in WWII as a humiliation and is determined to exact revenge on America. Shapiro excels, in particular, with his depiction of Cornell researcher Jake Sterling, whose determination permeates his every syllable.
Pub Date: March 22, 2011
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307881250
Publisher: Random House 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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