Red Sparrow

A Novel

By: Jason Matthews

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

The start of a major career! A gripping, highly commercial espionage thriller written with the delicious insider detail and up-to-the-minute insight only known to a veteran CIA spook.

In today's Russia, dominated by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, state intelligence officer Dominika Egorova struggles to survive in the cast-iron bureaucracy of post-Soviet intelligence. Drafted against her will to become a "Sparrow" - a trained seductress in the service, Dominika 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.

Seeking revenge against her soulless masters, Dominika begins a fatal double life, recruited by the CIA to ferret out a high-level traitor in Washington - hunt down a Russian illegal buried deep in the U.S. military and, against all odds, to return to Moscow as the new-generation penetration of Putin's intelligence service. Dominika and Nathaniel's impossible love affair and twisted spy game come to a deadly conclusion in the shocking climax of this electrifying, up-to-the minute spy thriller.

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©2013 Jason Matthews (P)2013 Simon & Schuster Audio

Amazing book for an author's first work

If you could sum up Red Sparrow in three words, what would they be?

Informative, well -written,

What does Jeremy Bobb bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I always listen to mystery novels because I can both listen and do mindless or boring tasks. My husband and I also listen when traveling by car as the miles seem to go much more quickly. I visualize the story more when it is narrated.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Sparrow school introduced a way of training a spy that I had never considered. It wasn't the extremes that made it interesting but the story was written so well and in a way that provided some many interesting details of the world of a spy and the CIA that it made it a great listen (of course, it is clear that the story didn't give away anything secret, but gave a window into the agency that a great backdrop,

Any additional comments?

I hope this is the first of a number of novels by this author in a series.

As intricate as Le Carré but more enjoyable

What made the experience of listening to Red Sparrow the most enjoyable?

I thoroughly enjoyed ever character in the book. Gable was hysterical and the two primary protagonists were riveting and admirable. Finally a book where the main character is not an alcoholic or divorced ruminating about how lousy his or her life had become.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gable was very well depicted and extremely funny. Picture a young Brian Dennehy.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I ate two recipes from the book.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait for a sequel

Spies, Espionage, Recipes, oh my!

Russia, the Soviet Union, the United States, who has the best spies? This book will keep you asking that question where it takes you to Moscow, Helsinki, from Greece, to former Soviet Satellites states. Learn about dinners to cook, and dungeons to stay away from. Nate as the one of main characters is a trained CIA, he finds himself recruiting a beautiful, cunning, and Strategic agent who has to learn to adapt at all times to be part of the espionage racket. She seems to hate it, but if it were not for a deep need to have justice served, she perseveres, or does she pay the ultimate price?

Spy meets romance

Post Soviet spy novel with some very axial and slightly disturbing bits.

Losing momentum about half day through.

At points the narration becomes quite robotic and I found myself running out.

Nevertheless, overall it was a decent read/listen.

Fun, diverting yet undemanding story.

Entertaining and full of spy life details that feel authentic. Great for helping with a long dull drive.

Good Russian spy novel

Character development focused strictly on the Sparrow but then expanded to others midpoint which was needed. Very well crafted, smart details and intricate weaving especially the last 1/3. Short recipes end of each chapter became something you look forward to, nice touch!

good story slightly monotoned narrator

I liked the story. there are a few awkward moments, but it keeps your attention. the narrator is a little too uniform with the various characters, so it can be difficult seperating them as the story progresses.

Yes, even if you have seen the movie!

If you are like me, you didn’t even know this was a series of books before the movie came out. A fan of the Mitch Rapp series, I was looking for a new thriller series. Wow! The spy craft and storytelling is superb. Matthews apparently has CIA experience, and it shows! This execution is artful and you need to.

Even if you have seen the movie, read this series! The book offers more color, more characters and is different and thrilling… A slow burn that only a longer novel can offer. Now… Onto the next book in the series!

Entertaining

I liked the plot and the characters. Moved along at an appropriate pace. Made me want to go back and read the book. Well done narration. Overall a success!

All five's

I have close to 800 audible titles. I don't write many reviews but I do keep my own records. I probably have less than twenty books that have received five stars. This is one of them. As soon as I finished I went to Audible to see if there were other titles available from this author. It was only then that I realized this was the first novel in a trilogy. I immediatly spent a credit on the next installment. I have never had an interest in learning to cook but after this book I might give it a try. I thoroughly enjoyed the recipes between chapters and thought they really added an interesting quirky touch.