The Afghan

By: Frederick Forsyth

Narrated by: Robert Powell

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A chilling story of modern terrorism from the grandmaster of international intrigue.

The Day of the Jackal, The Dogs of War, The Odessa File: the books of Frederick Forsyth have helped define the international thriller as we know it today. Combining meticulous research with crisp narratives and plots as current as the headlines, Forsyth shows us the world as it is in a way that few have ever been able to equal.

And the world as it is today is a very scary place.

When British and American intelligence catch wind of a major Al Qaeda operation in the works, they instantly galvanize, but to do what? They know nothing about it: the what, where, or when. They have no sources in Al Qaeda, and it's impossible to plant someone. Or is it?

The Afghan is Izmat Khan, a five-year prisoner of Guantanamo Bay and a former senior commander of the Taliban. The Afghan is also Colonel Mike Martin, a 25-year-old veteran of war zones around the world; a dark, lean man born and raised in Iraq. In an attempt to stave off disaster, the intelligence agencies will try to do what no one has ever done before, pass off a Westerner as an Arab among Arabs, and pass off Martin as the trusted Khan.

It will require extraordinary preparation, and then extraordinary luck, for nothing can truly prepare Martin for the dark and shifting world into which he is about to enter. Or for the terrible things he will find there.

Filled with remarkable detail and compulsive drama, The Afghan is further proof that Forsyth is truly master of suspense.

©2006 Frederick Forsyth (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., and Recorded Books, LLC. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A cut above...other post-9/11 spy thrillers." (Publishers Weekly)
"When it comes to espionage, international intrigue, and suspense, Frederick Forsyth is a master." (The Washington Post)

Well Researched & Plausable

We thoroughtly enjoyed this book. There is good reason for the British narration, while at first it was bothersome. The book brings light to history and the many cultural differences between Middle-Easterners, Brits and Americans.

We listened on a trip and it melted the miles away. It is only 8 disks, and they fly by quickly. One of our favorites.

Excellent and educational thriller

This novel by Frederick Forsyth has all the elements in it that I enjoy in a thriller. The story is compelling and kept my interest throughout. In addition the authors meticulous research provided much insight into the Afghan wars of both Russia and the US as well as a realistic picture of terror network inner workings as well as the counter terror off RTT organizations that are dedicated to combating them
The audio version was expertly produced and narrated

Another Good Forsyth book

Not his best but well written and altough it was not completly beleivable for me it was still a good listen and I recommend it.

Disappointing

Forsyths 'The Day of the Jackal' is one of my all time favorites so I had high hopes for 'The Afghan', but was diappointed. In fact half way through it almost became my first ever abandoned Audible selevtion, but I perservered to the end. The first half is very heavy on passive voice back story. The second half picks up somewhat, but not enough. There is one big hole in the plot and the finale is a rather abrupt anti climax.

The narrators voice is very clear throughout, but rather boring.

A great listen

Forsyth at the top of his game. I loved it, as I have everything he has written. It's clever, tight, and suspensful. A great twisting plot with wonderful characters in a plot that could happen. Well worth my time.

Maybe it should have been 5 stars

I reserve 5 stars for only the very best of books. I debated on this one; it is clearly among the best historical fiction I have ever read.

The author weaves a believable novel into current events, both educating and entertaining simultaneously.

Contrary to the other reviewers who have written that the narrator is monotone, I found his detached tone just perfect for this story. He reads with a Brittish accent, adjusting accent and tone to fit the character.

I had trouble putting this one down. Even the nature of the threat is not clear until the very end of the book.

A Perfect Novel

Each word counts and builds a plot gathering momentum and visual story. At a writer's conference a few years ago we all felt FF is a master of the story. The narration is wonderful. While slow in the beginning the layers count. Incredible research and restraint leaving much to contemplate.

decent thriller

you definitely get the feeling from Forsyth that research is everything. The problem is whether or not you can trust what he tells you. in several other books I have found some seriously incorrect stuff, so take it with a grain of salt. this is a decent thriller in the vein of day of the jackal with a last-minute twist ending, but all in all he's pretty much following the same formula that he is used since the 1970s. I think of him as a British Tom Clancy.

good listen

I hate tragedies, but good story all the same. Good story development. I like how Forsythe ties together seemingly unrelated events into one magnificent story.

Excellent, great story, well read.

I enjoyed it, rolled along without too much nonsense and had a lot of interesting detail. Plausible plot too.