36 Yalta Boulevard

A Novel

De: Olen Steinhauer

Narrado por: Yuri Rasovsky

State Security Officer Brano Sev is the secretive member of the Ministry for State Security. No one else quite trusts him, but it is part of his job to do what the authorities ask, no matter what. So when he gets an order to travel to the village of his birth in order to interrogate a potential defector, he goes. When a man turns up dead shortly after he arrives and Brano is framed for the murder, he assumes this is part of the plan and allows it to run its course.

But when the plan leads him into exile in Vienna, he finally begins to ask questions. In fact, Comrade Brano Sev learns that loyalty to the cause might be the biggest crime of all.

©2005 Olen Steinhauer (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Reseñas de la Crítica

"This is an imaginative, brilliantly plotted espionage thriller, with finely detailed settings and a protagonist of marvelous complexity. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)
"With its shifting perceptions, pervasive paranoia, and truly unpredictable plot, this will be savored by readers of well-crafted espionage." (Booklist)

Cold war spy story - Soviet satellite's agent

The year is 1967. Brano, an savvy and experienced agent in the state security agency of a Soviet satellite, is a pawn in a game among powers he cannot see and for purposes he does not comprehend. His perspective is much like that of a character in a Kafka novel. As he struggles to understand, to survive, and, most of all, to follow orders, the many layers of manipulation and deception unfold. But who or what is the ultimate puppetmaster and what is he or it up to? Will Brano live long enough to find out?

Interesting

To be honest I had low expectations for this book, I was only reading it because I told myself I was going to read the whole series. Come on, how interesting can you make a story set in the 1960's in the eastern bloc of Europe about a main character working for the state security. You think drab life. But, Steinhauer did turn it into an interesting listen that I found enjoyable. There were some nice twists and turns, east meets west, and it kept me listening. I recommend tis one.

This is the best Yalta Sequence book so far..

This is the best Yalta Sequence book so far.. I like the way that background characters from one book are then elevated into focus in the next.
This was also the best narration in the series as well.

Talented Narrator

this is my 3rd novel by this author, very detailed however the ends seemed to leave wanting more closure on endings

Riveting Reader

If you could sum up 36 Yalta Boulevard in three words, what would they be?

Great story, performance

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

The plot was a wonderfully convoluted spy story with constant twists, turns and surprises.The Eastern European ambience was interesting. There was cynicism, romance, failed idealism, danger and deception.

What does Yuri Rasovsky bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a fabulous reader, taking each character part uniquely and with just the right emotion. I have never heard a better performance. The reader's accents varied with the native language of each character. This recording is an instance where the oral reading is a much better experience than the visual experience of reading on the printed page.

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

Too long to listen to all at once, but that is the pleasure. I didn't want it to end.

Any additional comments?

I was exhilarated by the combination of a skillful reader and a great story.