The Arrington's grand opening has turned up on the National Security Agency’s phraseology watch lists. That's not good, since the presidents of the United States and Mexico, celebrities, and operative Stone Barrington are expected to be on hand for the possibly explosive situation. Tony Roberts reads with an elegant but sometimes stilted voice. It occasionally gets ludicrous, as with a briefing of terrorists early in the novel that should sound more menacing. Still, there's a lot of plot and background to set up, and Roberts handles it clearly. Roberts doesn't milk the story for every drop of tension, but it's a fun formulaic listen nonetheless. Keep this in mind for a long car trip.
Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2012
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Penguin 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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