The Talbot Odyssey

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 22 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

For 40 years Western intelligence agents have known a terrible secret: the Russians have a mole - code-named Talbot - inside the CIA. At first Talbot is suspected of killing European agents. Then a street-smart ex-cop uncovers a storm of espionage and murder on the streets of New York, while in a Long Island suburb a civic demonstration against the Russian mission masks a desperate duel of nerves and wits.

Engineered by Talbot, a shadow world of suspicion and deceit is spilling onto the streets - leading to a new Soviet weapon and a first-strike war plan threatening the foundations of American government.

For the U.S., time is running out. For Talbot, the time is now.

©2001 Nelson DeMille (P)2010 Hachette Audio

Exciting!

We listened to this story on a car trip, and we didn't finish it, so we listened every night during dinner. Sometimes it seemed to go on and on with unnecessary details, but that really only served to pique our interest and curiosity. All in all, it is an exciting listen.

Not as good as most DeMille books.

I’ve always been a big fan of DeMille but this one doesn’t meet his usual quality. I never felt a connection with the characters

To many characters

It took me forever to understand who was who.
Never the less I love the story as always

Brilliant

Reading this many, many years after this was written. Back then the Russians were a concern. Unsurprisingly, the Russians are still a concern. I’ve got to give it to Scott Brick and his brilliant narration of so many characters.

1984 Revisited

Excellent, layered spy novel, up to DeMille standards. Although originally published in 1984 it is applicable today. EMP bombs have been replaced with Internet attack and Putin’s Russia has replaced the USSR, but in all other respects things haven’t changed much. Must read for up to date DeMille fans plumbing the Archives.

Scott Brick salvaged this.

The performance of the reader is all that kept me to the end, where it finally got good.
Way too many characters to try to keep track of only to learn many of them are not even relevant.

Scott Brick brings all the characters to life.

A truly captivating story by the master, Nelson DeMille. Hated to put it down. Scott I [e-mail] an incredible narrator.

Not his best

It skipped around during much of the story. The plot was unbelievable even in today's world of technology. I didn't catch much of his usual humor, which I think is one of his great skills in his writing abilities. I got bored in several chapters of this book. Look forward to him going back to his usual serious but humorous writings.

great

although the book is now quite dated it's one of the best DeMille books I have read.

Good story, a bit Hollywoodish but fun

What did you love best about The Talbot Odyssey?

It's always fun to follow the adventures of the brilliant, indestructible, and lucky main character. Trying to figure out who is on what side was fun.

What other book might you compare The Talbot Odyssey to and why?

Can't think of one that would not reveal the end of the book.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Mr. Brick never disappoints. I don't know how he does female voices changing the pitch of his voice just a bit. In comparison all the female narrators I've listened to make men sound like pirates.

Any additional comments?

This is not the first book of Mr. DeMille in which unlucky bastards which are shot fly through the air backwards thrown by the impact of the bullet, just like in Hollywood movies. That is not realistic for more than one reason. Also different characters in different books say "Right!" as a patronizing or condescending confirmation too often.