• The Cardinal of the Kremlin

  • By: Tom Clancy
  • Narrated by: Michael Prichard
  • Length: 25 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (7,883 ratings)

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The Cardinal of the Kremlin  By  cover art

The Cardinal of the Kremlin

By: Tom Clancy
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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Publisher's summary

Two men possess vital information on Russia's Star Wars missile defense system.

One of them is Cardinal -- America's highest agent in the Kremlin -- and he's about to be terminated by the KGB.

The other one is the American who can save Cardinal and lead the world to the brink of peace . . . or war.

Here is author Tom Clancy's heart-stopping masterpiece -- a riveting novel about one of the most intriguing issues of our time.

©2009 Tom Clancy (P)2010 Random House

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What listeners say about The Cardinal of the Kremlin

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,660
  • 4 Stars
    1,640
  • 3 Stars
    451
  • 2 Stars
    77
  • 1 Stars
    55
Performance
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    4,542
  • 4 Stars
    1,592
  • 3 Stars
    635
  • 2 Stars
    183
  • 1 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,382
  • 4 Stars
    1,247
  • 3 Stars
    349
  • 2 Stars
    62
  • 1 Stars
    43

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of Clancy’s best

This book has a more complex plot than the earlier Clancy books and intertwines many of the characters we know and love. It’s long but worth the time.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well Done

If you could sum up The Cardinal of the Kremlin in three words, what would they be?

Classic Clancy Novel

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cardinal of the Kremlin?

Some of the twists of the story really took me by surprise.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performer was a solid voice. Good voices and well done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

SPOILER ALERT - The Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) operation had me cheering along with the action...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Probably the best book I've read to date.

I'm reading the Jack Ryan novels in order (by story, not release) and this is the best one I've read so far.

It does start out a bit slow, and the narration could be better, but the book is absolutely worth the read.

Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!

Loved it! I listen to this once every two years or so. It really captures that era of the Cold War. And as always Clancy's characters are so real.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Use clips and bookmarks

There are a lot of Russian characters to keep track of. You can note each Russian character’s name bookmarking the spot that character is introduced and then it’s easier to go back and listen to the introduction again if you lose track of who’s who and add to the note at that point

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing book, okay narration

the main issue for me was the changing equalization of the audio, which I found jarring during climatic scenes. the narrator is not as good as scott brick, but he's not as bad as some of the other reviews say. I enjoyed it more the second time through, something that's happened with most of mr clancy's books since their so dense.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

gripping international intrigue

Besides being an excellent story, Clancy's abilities to bring the views of international intrigues makes one wonder if he might not have been involved in situations such as these one day. His attention to details in his book's is rivaled by few authors, and yet he still is able to show the human side of all of his characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Looong

Could be 5 or 10 hours shorter but it tells about the Soviet culture of the time.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great storyline, bad narrator

Actually, horrible narration. The reader has an annoying voice, has an elementary grasp of accents and, overall, made this book less than what Tom Clancy would have liked.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I enjoyed the story and it was narrated well. I like these tales that wake us to reality and make us wonder...

"In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mister Krushchev said, "We will bury you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It'd be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly on common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

… There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the president?
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie we don't believe anymore
Mister Reagan says, "We will protect you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

… We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
But what might save us, me and you
Is if the Russians love their children too"
- Sting

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