The Charm School

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 24 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Something very strange -- and sinister -- is going on in the Russian woods at Borodino. In a place called Mrs. Ivanova's Charm School, young KGB agents are being taught by American POW's how to be model citizens of the USA. The Soviet goal -- to infiltrate the United States undetected.

When an unsuspecting American tourist stumbles upon this secret, he sets in motion a CIA investigation that will reveal horrifying police state savagery and superpower treachery.

©1999 Nelson DeMille (P)2009 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Riveting." ( Publishers Weekly)

This Story Is A Classic!

Great story that kept me on the edge of my seat! Read it years ago and enjoyed it. Listening to it was an entirely new experience.
All kinds of twists, spies, KGB, POWs, good guys, bad guys, heroes and a bit of romance.
Narration was top notch.

Could NOT stop listening!!!

Would you listen to The Charm School again? Why?

No, not because it was bad, but I know... I know... the gory details

Any additional comments?

Incredible plot: you get: intrigue, romance, spies, good & evil, drama and if you have ever been to Russia or former Soviet Union, you will giggle and laugh at how accurate Nelson DeMille's descriptions are, gosh, it was like I was there again!! He nails the small details, the pattern of thoughts, and the absolute corruption communism represents. But keep on reading, there is MORE!! The book has been very well researched and the information on the history and, at the time, current circumstances in the U.S.S.R. is absolutely correct. Dialogue is excellent, the characters are deep and their motives easily understood
Do get it - worth the price or the credit!!

Gripping and disturbing

Very very gripping. Scott Brick's reading is superb. He imitates accents and inflections really well. While I know the book is fiction. It's also feasible at least by analogy and in that disturbing.

One of the best books ever!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Charm School the most enjoyable?

This book was scary and very conceivable

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

This is Scott Brick at his best

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

Yes - when they thought that they were to leave the country by plane.

What a ride!

The finest narrator. I was hooked from the first page and tried to keep guessing at who may really be a bad guy. There were too many bad guys to guess accurately . I listened through a fourteen hour international flight and two days of jet lag! So I fell asleep often and had to relisten to chapters at a time. I loved this book.

Should have had 5 stars

Scott brick is one of my least favorite narrators because he over-emotes overlaying his interpretations on the authors words. I suppose all narrators do this but his way of reading with affect is very distracting to me, in fact, twice in this book I laughed out loud at his interpretation at a place that didn't warrant it. The result was I feel he changed one character from a strong competent person into a clingy needy female. The story is phenomenal, a wonderful experience. I cannot but wonder how many stars I would give it (10) with a reader I liked better. Sorry. But I can still recommend it.

The Cold Truth

Where does The Charm School rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

WOW!, first DeMille book. I rank this up with some of Tom Clancy's "Jack Ryan" earlier books.

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

The story kept you guessing the unexpected.

Which scene was your favorite?

Liked every twist! Overall 5 stars! Colonel Hollis determination kept each scene waiting for the next!

Any additional comments?

A friend recommended this book as a first listen of DeMille. For Clancy fans, this is a must listen.

Fascinating Story Takes You To Russia

Wonderful Action, Believable Characters, and an Fascinating Depiction of Russia. Espionage is usually not my thing, nor are stories set in Russia, but after reading the reviews on this book, I took a gamble...and won! The Charm School delivers an exciting read with well-developed characters. The ONLY distraction...and unfortunately, it was constant...had to do with the narrator, who did an absolutely outstanding job except for this: Every question, no matter which character asked it, was delivered with a Jewish accent, the kind usually followed with "oy vey." Terribly, terribly distracting.

great read

love this book. my favorite of many from Nelson Demille. fiction but plausible... maybe lol

WOW - What a ride!

This is a very long book and it takes a while to set the scene. At the end of Part 1 I was bored. At the end of Part 2 I was beginning to think it was interesting. The last half of Part 3 was so intense I could barely breathe. I will listen to this one again in the future without a doubt.