Body of Lies

A Novel

By: David Ignatius

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Roger Ferris is one of the CIA's soldiers in the war on terrorism. He has come out of Iraq with a shattered leg and an intense mission: to penetrate the network of a master terrorist known only as "Suleiman". Ferris' plan for getting inside Suleiman's tent is inspired by a masterpiece of British intelligence during World War II: he prepares a body of lies, literally the corpse of an imaginary CIA officer who appears to have accomplished the impossible by recruiting an agent within the enemy's ranks.

This scheme binds friend and foe in a web of extraordinary subtlety and complexity, and when it begins to unravel, Ferris finds himself flying blind into a hurricane. His only hope is the urbane head of Jordan's intelligence service - a man who might be an Arab version of John le Carre's celebrated spy, George Smiley. But can Ferris trust him?

©2007 David Ignatius (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Vividly rendered locales, clever plotting, some compelling characters, and a discomforting verisimilitude." (Booklist)
"Displaying his trademark expertise and writing skill, Washington Post columnist Ignatius...has crafted one of the best post-9/11 spy thrillers yet." (Publishers Weekly)

Personal Life of a Spy

Overlaying a plot to flush an al-Qaeda leader are the personal difficulties of CIA operative Roger Ferris. Lacking the discipline one expects of an undercover agent, Ferris blunders his way through an unsuccessful marriage, a divorce, and a love affair. The action scenes are sufficiently carried out, but there is no indication that Ferris is much more than a teen-ager in a man's body throughout the story, including the end.

Excellent listen.

This was very entertaining. In my opinion, better than the movie. I truly enjoyed it. Having viewed the movie a while ago, it was very easy to connect Leonardo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe's characters to the book. I would recommend this audiobook.

Volamus

A story with many twists and turns that keeps one entertained and anticipating the next twist and turn.

Meh

Meh meh meh… ridiculous and unnecessary sex scenes— men never get women right. Expected better subtlety from the author.

Twists and Turns

As an avid reader of spy novels I love the twists and turns this book takes. The characters are believable and you can relate to their situations.
If you have seen the movie, the book is better.

Among the great spy novels…

David Ignatius is in the enviable position of being a top journalist, whose core value is truth telling, while simultaneously being a gifted story teller in the espionage space, where the core value is believable untruths. What a life…

“Body of Lies” stands eye to eye among anything from John LeCarre or Frederick Forsyth. Riveting realism, wholly believable characters.

Performance is diminished by Dick Hill’s inability to switch off the unrefined New England accent that seems to permeate all characters in the story. An interesting study in how a voice can alter the dimensions and impressions of a written character. A brilliantly written character just seems less brilliant, less intelligent, less educated when brought to life and speaking with an incompatible accent. Even the neutral narration sounds like the stereotypical taxi driver when you’re stuck in traffic after a long flight….

Body of lies

This book was well worth the time. I found the story interesting with good background support. My only problem was the recording ended in mid-sentence.

for masochists only

Not even Dick Hill's narration could save this book . . . and after a while I think he quit trying. The book's downfall is its peculiar mix of topical material--terrorism, al Quaeda, Iraq, Afghanistan--and a peculiarly 1940s -sensibility romance. The protagonist is inexplicably naive, despite his experiences and his job; his marriage makes no sense, nor does his ext from it. His romance of the feisty young smart gorl is absurdly chivalrous, as though the author thinks each character must keep one foot on the floor at all times while in bed. The plot, while convoluted, is like a dull drive on an uninteresting windy road.This book is perfect if you have a lot of time and don't mind being bored.

excellent story

Would you listen to Body of Lies again? Why?

Yes because I enjoyed it

What other book might you compare Body of Lies to and why?

The Kite Flyer

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

I enjoy his voice. It is very clear.

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

It was all good

Body of Lies

This book takes some time to get into, but once it gets going the suspense is like an avalanche. As the main character develops he becomes a very human CIA agent, with real emotions and failings, not the fictional superspy who never makes mistakes. But he grows quickly and at the end becomes fully mature and very wise. This is about an effort by the CIA to uncover a terrorist cell that is operating throughout Europe and the Middle East and also involves a high level Jordanian agent who helps bring the story together. I couldn't put the book down toward the end and the climax was extraordinary and quite unexpected. All-in-all a very intelligently written story. I don't agree with the criticism of the narrator by other reviewers. He was not the best I've heard but he was good, the middle-eastern accents of those characters very well done and he kept the story going for me. I give this one four stars.