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Howie

Big historical fiction fan and mysteries/espionage addict. Favourite author at the moment, Jo Nesbo.

Calgary, AB, Canada | Member Since 2007

HELPFUL VOTES

15 reviews
49 ratings
0 titles in library
42 purchased in 2013

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The Honourable Schoolboy

UNABRIDGED
- by John le Carre
- Narrated by Frederick Davidson
The Honourable Schoolboy

UNABRIDGED (23 hrs and 3 mins)

By John le Carre

Narrated By Frederick Davidson

Overall
(180)
Performance
(51)
Story
(51)

The preceding novel in the George Smiley series (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) ended with the devastating unmasking of a double agent at the heart of the British Secret Service. Now, in The Honourable Schoolboy, George Smiley, who has assumed the unenviable job of restoring the health and reputation of his demoralized organization, goes on the offensive. He searches for a whisper, a hint, a clue that will lead him back to his opposite number: Karla, a Soviet officer in Moscow.
Iain says: "A wonderful cold war thriller"
"Classic le Carre...I think one of his best."

Overall
Performance
Story

Slow to start and getting a handle on all the characters, but well worth the time. Found it engrossing.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Red Sparrow: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by Jason Matthews
- Narrated by Jeremy Bobb
Red Sparrow: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (17 hrs and 55 mins)

By Jason Matthews

Narrated By Jeremy Bobb

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(14)
Performance
(13)
Story
(13)

Drafted against her will to become a "Sparrow" - a trained seductress in the service, Russian intelligence officer Dominika Egorova is assigned to operate against Nathaniel Nash, a first-tour CIA officer who handles the CIA's most sensitive penetration of Russian intelligence. The two young intelligence officers, trained in their respective spy schools, collide in a charged atmosphere of tradecraft, deception, and inevitably, a forbidden spiral of carnal attraction that threatens their careers and the security of America's valuable mole in Moscow.
Melinda says: "Sexy Saucy Spies"
"Really good Putin era espionage novel"

Overall
Performance
Story

Very with the times espionage tale, very believable IMHO, not many far fetched moments in this book. The first book of his I've found and was a pleasant surprise, wasn't expecting too much going into it. Highly recommend for contemporary espionage fans.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful
A Conspiracy of Faith: Department Q, Book 3

UNABRIDGED
- by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- Narrated by Graeme Malcolm
A Conspiracy of Faith: Department Q, Book 3

UNABRIDGED (15 hrs and 27 mins)

By Jussi Adler-Olsen

Narrated By Graeme Malcolm

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(28)
Performance
(26)
Story
(27)

Detective Carl Morck has received a bottle that holds an old and decayed message written in blood. It's a cry for help from two young brothers, tied and bound in a boathouse by the sea. After floating in the ocean for years before turning up, the bottle sat forgotten, unopened, on a police department windowsill, before the seal was cracked and the gruesome message, written in Danish, was analyzed. Could it be real? Who are these boys, and why weren't they reported missing? Could they possibly still be alive?
Sylvia says: "best so far"
"If you like Larsson,Mankell , probably like this."

Overall
Performance
Story

Stieg Larsson or Nesbo light, quirky characters kinda like Barney Miller with an edge, lots of funny parts I thought. Though some the characters may drive you nuts at times.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Guns of August

UNABRIDGED
- by Barbara W. Tuchman
- Narrated by Nadia May
The Guns of August

UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 9 mins)

By Barbara W. Tuchman

Narrated By Nadia May

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(773)
Performance
(256)
Story
(245)

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, historian Barbara Tuchman brings to life the people and events that led up to World War I. This was the last gasp of the Gilded Age, of Kings and Kaisers and Czars, of pointed or plumed hats, colored uniforms, and all the pomp and romance that went along with war. How quickly it all changed...and how horrible it became.
IRP says: "A Great Book-One Of My Alltime Favorite Books"
"Must read to understand WW1....IMO"

Overall
Performance
Story

Follow this up with All Quiet on the Western Front and it will give you a very good perspective on the tragedy that was WW1.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A Delicate Truth: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by John le Carre
- Narrated by John le Carre
A Delicate Truth: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 31 mins)

By John le Carre

Narrated By John le Carre

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(77)
Performance
(68)
Story
(68)

A Delicate Truth opens in 2008. A counter-terrorist operation, codenamed Wildlife, is being mounted on the British crown colony of Gibraltar. Its purpose: to capture and abduct a high-value jihadist arms buyer. Its authors: an ambitious Foreign Office Minister, a private defense contractor who is also his bosom friend, and a shady American CIA operative of the evangelical far right. So delicate is the operation that even the Minister’s personal private secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it.
connie says: "I haven't enjoyed a tale this much in many listens"
"Like Le Carre? You'll love this one...."

Overall
Performance
Story

An espionage novel that works well outside the Cold War, cerebral but not pretentious.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful
The Red Moth

UNABRIDGED
- by Sam Eastland
- Narrated by Steven Pacey
The Red Moth

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 24 mins)

By Sam Eastland

Narrated By Steven Pacey

Overall
(2)
Performance
(2)
Story
(2)

As Hitler's forces smash into Soviet territory, a lone German scout plane is forced down. Contained in a briefcase within is a seemingly inconsequential painting of a red moth. Military Intelligence dismisses the picture as insignificant, but Stalin suspects a German plot. He summons his old adversary, Inspector Pekkala - the Finn who was Tsar Nicholas II's personal detective - to discover the real significance of this strange cargo. As the storm gathers, Pekkala and his assistant from the Bureau of Special Operations find themselves on the track of the most formidable art thieves in history.
Howie says: "Love the Stalin angle in this series."
"Love the Stalin angle in this series."

Overall
Performance
Story

Start with book 1 in this series. Anxiously awaiting the next one. If you love historical fiction mixed with a good mystery you should really like this.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Noble House

UNABRIDGED
- by James Clavell
- Narrated by John Lee
Noble House

UNABRIDGED (56 hrs and 13 mins)

By James Clavell

Narrated By John Lee

Overall
(452)
Performance
(218)
Story
(210)

The setting is Hong Kong, 1963. The action spans scarcely more than a week, but these are the days of high adventure, from kidnapping and murder to financial double-dealing and natural catastrophes: fire, flood, and landslide. Yet they are days filled as well with all the mystery and romance of Hong Kong, the heart of Asia, rich in every trade: money, flesh, opium, power.
Bruce says: "Incredible in every way"
"Caprtivating, great insight into HK bak in the day"

Overall
Performance
Story

Just a really good listen,well narrated and took me back to my times in HK and Macao.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Bat: A Harry Hole Thriller, Book 1

UNABRIDGED
- by Jo Nesbo
- Narrated by Sean Barrett
The Bat: A Harry Hole Thriller, Book 1

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 43 mins)

By Jo Nesbo

Narrated By Sean Barrett

Overall
(712)
Performance
(618)
Story
(608)

Harry is out of his depth. Detective Harry Hole is meant to keep out of trouble. A young Norwegian girl taking a gap year in Sydney has been murdered, and Harry has been sent to Australia to assist in any way he can. He's not supposed to get too involved. When the team unearths a string of unsolved murders and disappearances, nothing will stop Harry from finding out the truth. The hunt for a serial killer is on, but the murderer will talk only to Harry. He might just be the next victim.
Charles says: "Probably the best of this remarkable series."
"Love Harry Hole, even in reverse order...."

Overall
Performance
Story

The kind of tragically flawed protagonist Jo Nesbo creates in this series.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Snowman

UNABRIDGED
- by Jo Nesbo
- Narrated by Robin Sachs
The Snowman

UNABRIDGED (15 hrs and 38 mins)

By Jo Nesbo

Narrated By Robin Sachs

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(1653)
Performance
(1044)
Story
(1044)

Oslo in November. The first snow of the season has fallen. A boy named Jonas wakes in the night to find his mother gone. Out his window, in the cold moonlight, he sees the snowman that inexplicably appeared in the yard earlier in the day. Around its neck is his mother’s pink scarf. Hole suspects a link between a menacing letter he’s received and the disappearance of Jonas’s mother - and of perhaps a dozen other women, all of whom went missing on the day of a first snowfall. As his investigation deepens, something else emerges: he is becoming a pawn....
Anita says: "many layered thriller"
"This is series is simply awesome."

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if they like mystery, thriller crime novels. In the vein of the Dragon Tatoo series and Scandanavian Crime novelists.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Very much.....see for yourself.

Any additional comments?

You'll want to read the whole series, guarantee it.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Columbus Affair: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by Steve Berry
- Narrated by Scott Brick
The Columbus Affair: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 1 min)

By Steve Berry

Narrated By Scott Brick

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(338)
Performance
(281)
Story
(287)

Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Tom Sagan has written hard-hitting articles from hot spots around the world. But when a controversial report from a war-torn region is exposed as a fraud, his professional reputation crashes and burns. Now he lives in virtual exile - haunted by bad decisions and the shocking truth he can never prove: that his downfall was a deliberate act of sabotage by an unknown enemy. But before Sagan can end his torment with the squeeze of a trigger, fate intervenes....
p says: "I second the 'Meh" - disappointing and boring."
"Meh"

Overall
Performance
Story

Just couldn't get into it maybe you can. Very disappointed with Berry's latest effort.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful
The Zimmermann Telegram

UNABRIDGED
- by Barbara W. Tuchman
- Narrated by Wanda McCaddon
The Zimmermann Telegram

UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 11 mins)

By Barbara W. Tuchman

Narrated By Wanda McCaddon

Overall
(208)
Performance
(137)
Story
(138)

In the dark winter of 1917, as World War I was deadlocked, Britain knew that Europe could be saved only if the United States joined the war. But President Wilson remained unshakable in his neutrality. Then, with a single stroke, the tool to propel America into the war came into a quiet British office. One of countless messages intercepted by the crack team of British decoders, the Zimmermann telegram was a top-secret message from Berlin inviting Mexico to join Japan in an invasion of the United States.
David says: "How the U.S. entered the war"
"Very interesting and reads like a novel...."

Overall
Performance
Story

The intrigue of how the US ended up in WWI, despite Wilson's isolationist stance. Found it entertaining as well, read like spy fiction.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful