Restless

By: William Boyd

Narrated by: Rosamund Pike

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

"I am Eva Delectorskaya," Sally Gilmartin announces, and so on a warm summer afternoon in 1976 her daughter, Ruth, learns that everything she ever knew about her mother was a carefully constructed lie. Sally Gilmartin is a respectable English widow living in picturesque Cotswold village; Eva Delectorskaya was a rigorously trained World War II spy, a woman who carried fake passports and retreated to secret safe houses, a woman taught to lie and deceive, and above all, to never trust anyone.

Three decades later the secrets of Sally's past still haunt her. Someone is trying to kill her and at last she has decided to trust Ruth with her story. Ruth, meanwhile, is struggling to make sense of her own life as a young single mother with an unfinished graduate degree and escalating dependence on alcohol. She is drawn deeper and deeper into the astonishing events of her mother's past—the mysterious death of Eva's beloved brother, her work in New York City manipulating the press in order to shift public sentiment toward American involvement in the war, her dangerous romantic entanglement. Now Sally wants to find the man who recruited her for the secret service, and she needs Ruth's help. William Boyd's Restless is a brilliant espionage audiobook and a vivid portrait of the life of a female spy. Full of tension and drama, and based on a remarkable chapter of Anglo-American history, this is listening at its finest.

©2006 William Boyd (P)2006 Audio Renaissance, a divison of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, Unabridged, 2007

"This fascinating story is well told." (Publishers Weekly)
"[An] espionage thriller and domestic drama by one of the very best prose stylists and storytellers in the English language." (Atlantic Monthly)

Favorite Book of 2007

Restless has it all: richly drawn characters with depth, humanity and wit who find themselves drawn into a believable intrigue that captures you from the first sentence. Boyd's writing elegantly and effortlessly provokes thought on the issues of secrecy, intimacy, loyalty, and love. His grasp of the everyday routine of living adds grace notes of humor and warmth to a first rate story. The narrator is perfect - her intelligent and wry delivery brilliantly delivers Boyd's fascinating story. The combination of excellent writing, two interesting protagonists (one of whom would have made Le Carre's Smiley tip his hat in admiration after a successful dead letter drop) make this my favorite book of 2007!

Wonderful!

A compelling and beautifully written novel about a fascinating time in world history. I listened to it straight through in one weekend. Buy the unabridged version — you won’t want to miss a minute of Boyd’s amazing prose.

Spy novel meets fine literature.

Through a series of flashbacks and present-day settings, we are introduced to the characters and how they are intertwined within a complex storyline of intrigue and double-dealings (everything you might expect from a good spy novel!).

We are led by the main character, and see how events in their life, and the hidden past lives of family members and associates, culminate towards a conclusion for all involved parties.

Excellent

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

This is my first book by William Boyd. I checked it out after reading reviews for a different book that mentioned this one. The story moves between the current setting and the past very well and you're never confused where are you or who is talking. It makes you think. It pulls in interesting historical topics around WW2.

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

I was always curious as to what happened, if she was going to get killed and who she thought was after her.

What about Rosamund Pike’s performance did you like?

Rosamund really brought the story to life. I would happily listen to more books read by her. Her pace, her inflection, she really brings each character out with a different voice and personality.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES.

Very good listen

Would you consider the audio edition of Restless to be better than the print version?

I always enjoy Boyd's books and this was another good one. It was a great story and was well read by the narrator.

Brilliant - one of my top favourites

What made the experience of listening to Restless the most enjoyable?

This story was very well written with a brilliant narration which kept me spell bound.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book you will not be disappointed. This is the second William Boyd book I have listened to and will certainly listen to more, the other was Any Human Heart which was a great listen as well. I wish Rosamund Pyke had narrated more books but will certainly watch out for her she was brilliant

A spy novel for people who don't read spy novels

More a novel about characters who occasionally spy than it is an actual spy novel. As a regular old novel it's pretty darn good. But as a spy story it's a bit too thin to be put in the same category as LeCarre or Furst.

Thoroughly enjoyed this story!

I bought this audiobook after listening to Rosamund Pike's version of Pride and Prejudice. I loved her performance so much, I went in search of something else she had narrated and found Restless. It sounded like an intriguing premise, so I took a chance. I'm so glad I did! Both the story and performance were excellent! I will probably read more William Boyd, and would love to hear more of Rosamund Pike!

great listen

narrator is very good and loved the story, interesting insight into espionage. definitely recommended

superb

I LOVED the story, intriguing, captivating and somewhat original, plus the performance of Rosamund Pike never dissapoints, comoletely recomended!!!