Red Cell

A Novel

De: Mark Henshaw

Narrado por: Rob Patterson

From the Tom Clancy of a new generation, a debut thriller following two CIA outcasts who must race to stop a secret Chinese weapon that threatens to provoke a world war.

After her first assignment in Venezuela goes disastrously awry, rookie case officer Kyra Stryker is brought back to Langley to work in the Red Cell, the CIA’s out-of-the-box think tank. There she’s paired with Jonathan Burke, a straight-laced analyst who’s alienated his colleagues with his unorthodox methods and a knack for always being right, political consequences be damned.

When a raid on Chinese spies in Taiwan ends in a shootout, CIA Director Kathy Cooke turns to the Red Cell to figure out why China is ready to invade the island nation without any fear of reprisal from the U.S. Navy. Stryker and Burke’s only lead is the top CIA asset in China, codenamed Pioneer. But when Pioneer reports that Chinese security has him under surveillance, Stryker is offered a chance for redemption by extracting him before he’s arrested and executed. The answers he holds could mean the difference between peace in the Pacific or an escalating global conflict.

From CIA headquarters to the White House to a Navy carrier in the South China Sea, Red Cell takes readers on a whirlwind race against time as Stryker and Burke work to save Pioneer and discover the hidden threat to America’s power: China’s top secret weapon. CIA analyst and Brigham Young University graduate Mark Henshaw infuses expert knowledge of the intelligence world into his novel to create a fascinating and pulse-pounding read.

Good story but terrible narration and editing

Other reviews have said this, but it is worth repeating. The story was good but nearly ruined by the narrator. Almost monotone, except for oddly emphasizing a word out of place. Very few pauses, even between sentences and paragraphs, it was like listening to a 30 minute run on sentence. This made it difficult to follow when the location changed and different characters were speaking. Editing didn’t catch or fix these issues or even out different recordings. It felt like the audiobook was an afterthought. Very unfortunate.

Creative engaging story.

The story was fast-paced and consistently engaging. The author creatively describes emotions. He possesses an expansive knowledge of technical topics such as weaponry, espionage, aviation and wields it well. Excellent character development. perhaps my favorite facet of this author's writing is the conspicuous absence of profanity which is typically littered throughout books of this genre. I found that very refreshing. Instead, he obliquely but vividly describes how the character used the profanity sparing the reader from tiring exposure to vulgarity. I listened to book number two from this series prior to this one and I think they could be read in any order. I'm going to get number three now. Goodbye.

Good

What did you love best about Red Cell?

It was a different area of focus than what I usually listen to.

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

It was good.

Compelling story, well told...very badly read.

Feel bad for the narrator of this one... he is clearly in the wrong business. It's a tribute to the quality of the story that it compelled me to endure the reader's tonally flat (except for a couple of oddly incongruous moments) and choppy delivery. Why would... anyone ... think... that ... it makes .... sense to... read... sentences... like ... this?
Given how good the sequel is, I think it would be worth exploring a new audio production of Red Cell. Haven't read the third book yet, but this shows signs of being a strong series.(Book 2 has a different narrator.)

Good action story

This is my first book by Mark Henshaw. This book starts out as a spy story in Venezuela when CIA agent Kyra Stryker escapes a trap but is wounded. On her return to Washington D.C. she is assigned to the Red Cell an out of the box analyst group headed by Jonathan Burke. They are busy with a problem in Taiwan and China trying to discover what secret weapon the Chinese have developed. They discover the Assassin's Mace and while trying to find out what it is they have to meet and bring out one of the CIA asset in China called Pioneer. The first half of the book is spies and suspense the second half of the book is naval ship and air action. Lots of excitment and a fast pace story. Rob Patterson does a great job with the narration. Henshaw does a great job in tying up the story at the end of the book, so many authors leave us readers hanging.