Regular price: $20.97
For James Bond and the British Secret Service, the stakes couldn't be higher. 007's mission is to neutralize the Russian operative Le Chiffre by ruining him at the baccarat table, forcing his Soviet masters to "retire" him. When Le Chiffre hits a losing streak, Bond discovers his luck is in - that is, until he meets Vesper Lynd, a glamorous agent who might yet prove to be his downfall. This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Dan Stevens.
For James Bond and the British Secret Service, the stakes couldn't be higher. 007's mission is to neutralize the Russian operative Le Chiffre by ruining him at the baccarat table, forcing his Soviet masters to "retire" him. When Le Chiffre hits a losing streak, Bond discovers his luck is in - that is, until he meets Vesper Lynd, a glamorous agent who might yet prove to be his downfall. This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Dan Stevens.
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the definitive collection of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and four collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated eight insightful introductions, one for each title.
From the acclaimed master of action and suspense. The all-time classic. Paul Sherman of Interpol's Narcotics Bureau flies to Amsterdam on the trail of a dope king. With enormous skill the atmosphere is built up: Amsterdam with its canals and high houses; stolid police; psychopaths; women in distress; and above all, murder.
His memory is blank. He only knows that he was flushed out of the Mediterranean Sea, his body riddled with bullets. There are a few clues. A frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the flesh of his hip. Evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face. Strange things that he says in his delirium -- maybe code words. Initials: "J.B." And a number on the film negative that leads to a Swiss bank account, a fortune of four million dollars, and, at last, a name: Jason Bourne.
Mike has teamed up with director Eric Martin to adapt the novelization into a fully immersive cinematic audio experience, and an epic all-star cast has come together to introduce Stinker to a whole new generation of fans! It's Smokey and the Bandit meets Every Which Way But Loose meets Smokey and the Bandit Parts 2 and 3. Feel the thrill as Stinker teams up with old pals Boner and Jumbo, plus new friends Buck and Rascal the Chimp, for a crazy ride across the highways and byways of Bicentennial America.
For James Bond and the British Secret Service, the stakes couldn't be higher. 007's mission is to neutralize the Russian operative Le Chiffre by ruining him at the baccarat table, forcing his Soviet masters to "retire" him. When Le Chiffre hits a losing streak, Bond discovers his luck is in - that is, until he meets Vesper Lynd, a glamorous agent who might yet prove to be his downfall. This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Dan Stevens.
For James Bond and the British Secret Service, the stakes couldn't be higher. 007's mission is to neutralize the Russian operative Le Chiffre by ruining him at the baccarat table, forcing his Soviet masters to "retire" him. When Le Chiffre hits a losing streak, Bond discovers his luck is in - that is, until he meets Vesper Lynd, a glamorous agent who might yet prove to be his downfall. This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Dan Stevens.
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the definitive collection of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and four collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated eight insightful introductions, one for each title.
From the acclaimed master of action and suspense. The all-time classic. Paul Sherman of Interpol's Narcotics Bureau flies to Amsterdam on the trail of a dope king. With enormous skill the atmosphere is built up: Amsterdam with its canals and high houses; stolid police; psychopaths; women in distress; and above all, murder.
His memory is blank. He only knows that he was flushed out of the Mediterranean Sea, his body riddled with bullets. There are a few clues. A frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the flesh of his hip. Evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face. Strange things that he says in his delirium -- maybe code words. Initials: "J.B." And a number on the film negative that leads to a Swiss bank account, a fortune of four million dollars, and, at last, a name: Jason Bourne.
Mike has teamed up with director Eric Martin to adapt the novelization into a fully immersive cinematic audio experience, and an epic all-star cast has come together to introduce Stinker to a whole new generation of fans! It's Smokey and the Bandit meets Every Which Way But Loose meets Smokey and the Bandit Parts 2 and 3. Feel the thrill as Stinker teams up with old pals Boner and Jumbo, plus new friends Buck and Rascal the Chimp, for a crazy ride across the highways and byways of Bicentennial America.
From the acclaimed master of action and suspense. The all-time classic. Millions of pounds in gold bullion are being pirated in the Irish Sea. Investigations by the British Secret Service, and a sixth sense, have bought Philip Calvert to a bleak, lonely bay in the Western Highlands. But the sleepy atmosphere of Torbay is deceptive. The place is the focal point of many mysterious disappearances. Even the unimaginative Highland Police Sergeant seems to be acting a part. But why?
Geheimagent 007 entlarvt einen Kartenbetrüger und deckt sein tödliches Geheimnis auf. Auf Ms Bitte hin tritt Bond gegen Sir Hugo Drax am Kartentisch an...
On 16 August 1952, Ian Fleming wrote to his wife, Ann, 'My love, This is only a tiny letter to try out my new typewriter and to see if it will write golden words since it is made of gold'. And he did write golden words: 14 best-selling James Bond books, and an equally energetic flow of letters to his wife, publisher, editors, fans, friends and critics, charting 007's progress....
A set textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since publication, Newt Scamander's masterpiece has entertained wizarding families through the generations. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the wizarding world. Scamander's years of travel and research have created a tome of unparalleled importance.
The classic World War II thriller from the acclaimed master of action and suspense. One winter night, seven men and a woman are parachuted onto a mountainside in wartime Germany. Their objective: an apparently inaccessible castle, headquarters of the Gestapo. Their mission: to rescue a crashed American general before the Nazi interrogators can force him to reveal secret D-day plans.
Geheimdienstchef M schickt Bond auf eine Mission, um einen russischen Agenten namens "Le Chiffre" auszuschalten. Er soll ihn am Baccarat-Tisch ruinieren und so seine sowjetischen Auftraggeber zwingen, ihn in den "Ruhestand" zu schicken. Zunächst scheint es so, als ob das Glück Bond hold ist - Le Chiffre hat eine Pechsträhne. Doch manche Leute weigern sich einfach, nach den Regeln zu spielen...
Sportsman, womanizer, naval commander, world-traveler, spy, this suave Old Etonian creator of the Cold War's archetypal secret agent was infinitely more complicated and interesting than his major fictional character, Agent 007.
It is fall. CIA analyst Jack Ryan, historian and former Marine, is vacationing in London with his wife and young daughter. Suddenly, right before his eyes, a terrorist group launches its deadly attack. Instinctively, he dives forward to break it up, and is shot. It is not until he wakes up in the hospital that he learns whose lives he has saved - the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
Hard-boiled detective Sam Spade is hired to locate a client's sister by tailing the sister's companion. Spade's partner Miles Archer takes on the assignment, and quickly both Archer and the man he was shadowing are murdered. As Spade pursues the mystery of his partner's death, he is drawn into a circle of colorful characters, and they are all after a legendary statuette of a falcon that had long ago been made for King Charles of Spain. Encrusted with jewels, it is worth a fortune.
Emily Inglethorp has been poisoned. And it seems everyone at Styles Court, from the hired help to family members, had a motive - and the means. But with Detective Hercule Poirot out of retirement and on the case, no one's getting away with murder. The Mysterious Affair at Styles was not only Agatha Christie's debut; it also introduced her illustrious detective character to the world.
With his trademark mirth and boundless charisma, actor Nick Offerman brought the loveable shenanigans of Twain's adolescent hero to life in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Now, in yet another virtuosic performance, the actor proves that despite being separated by a span of over a century, his connection to the author and his work is undeniable and that theirs is a timeless collaboration that should not be missed.
Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old girl from Dardanelle, Arkansas, sets out to avenge her Daddy who was shot to death by a no-good outlaw. Mattie convinces one-eyed "Rooster" Cogburn, the meanest U.S. marshal in the land, to ride along with her. In True Grit, we have a true American classic, as young Mattie, as vital as she is innocent, outdickers and outmaneuvers the hard-bitten men of the trail in a legend that will last through the ages.
When 007 goes to Harlem, it's not just for the jazz. This is the kingdom of Mr. Big, master of crime, voodoo baron, and partner in SMERSH's grim company of death. Those Mr. Big cannot possess he crushes - like his beautiful prisoner, Solitaire, and her would-be saviors James Bond and Agency man Felix Leiter. All three are marked out as victims in a trail of terror, treachery, and torture that leads from New York's underworld to the shark-infested island in the sun that Mr. Big calls his own.
This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Rory Kinnear.
Blackstone Audio, Inc. James Bond and 007 are registered trademarks of Danjaq LLC, used under license by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd
I have to say I disagree with the reviews they call this book racist. The book was written in 1954. The language it uses it typical of that time. rather than being racist, this book is actually very Pro African American, as its antagonist is a brilliant, powerful man whose organization proves more capable than the combined resources of the FBI, CIA and MI6. All this in a book that was written while Jim Crow laws were still in effect. Rather than being reviled as racist, this book should be recognized as an early piece of civil rights literature.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
The narrator read this at a perfect pace with a sense of scene and speaker. He read Solitaire as a gentle voice but did not use an effeminate voice which often sounds silly. Bond was read in a strong but thinking manner.
The book itself is a great story and introduces us to Mr. Big and continues the storyline of Smersh (?). I enjoyed meeting Felix again and of course, M. The plot was engaging, picking up the pace around chapter 4. It was a very enjoyable set of drives to and from work. And I think many will enjoy this story, simply relaxing in their favourite chair with a yummy cup of tea.
I found it rather difficult to sink my teeth into this book. The story wasn’t as gripping as Casino Royale and I kept not really wanting to finish it. Towards the end of the book (last 1.5 hours or so) it really picks up. In general not a bad story just a bit boring especially in the beginning. Rory Kinnear’s performance was very enjoyable.
This early Bond novel has some interesting points that make it both problematic and fun. In many ways, it is quite clever, and in other, it is quite simplistic. When Fleming tries to do too much, the story often suffers for it, so it is probably better that it wasn’t more intricate, but Live and Let Die lacks some of the sparkle that other novels have. The main problem it suffers from, however, is a modern day sense of propriety and sensibility.
The whole novel hinges on gold from England being smuggled from Jamaica through Florida to Harlem. Bond is sent as the Secret Service agent, and teams up with Felix Leiter from the previous novel, “Casino Royale” of the CIA. The villain of the novel is a man known throughout most of the novel as Mr. Big, or the Big Man. Rarely is a Bond villain such a caricature. In a similar fashion, the Bond girl in this novel has her name only given once, and is mostly only known as Solitaire.
Mr. Big is an African-American man with a heart condition that gives him a gray complexion. He is also a member of the Russian anti-spy agency known in the Bond universe as SMERSH. M mentions early on that there’s no reason there can’t be a great black criminal, but Mr. Big places a huge importance on the fact that he is the first great black criminal. Bond is suitably impressed with the web of informants, communication chain, and loyalty that Mr. Big has, but cares less about his race than the fact that he seems to control his followers out of a fear of voodoo than other means.
That is the most bizarre aspect to this story. Fleming clearly researched voodoo well, as there is significant descriptions of the practice and beliefs, but there is an implication that every African-American living in that time period believed in voodoo. Mr. Big is supposed to be a zombie of Baron Samdi, but to create the widespread fear, power, and control that he wields in the novel, pretty much every African-American living in America was prey to Mr. Big’s influence, and, by extension, believed in the power of voodoo. I want to know what demographics Fleming was reading.
At first glance, it seemed that the detour to St. Petersburg, Florida would be a mere pit stop after the train ride, to show that Big’s web was a step ahead of Bond, but it was so much more. Of course, it starts with Bond and Solitaire eating eggs in a diner before she gets kidnapped. Really. James Bond eats eggs in a story. First, Leiter’s attack was wholly unexpected. Next, how the gold was smuggled was a bit of genius on Fleming’s part.
In Jamaica, Bond spends a fair amount of time getting into fighting form, training then swimming to the island where the gold is being unloaded by Mr. Big, in time for the final showdown. All in all, the ending is satisfying, but perhaps it was the fact the the voodoo drums were faked in the end that was the most upsetting. The girl was supposed to be some sort of psychic from Haiti—a Caucasian girl, who defected from Mr. Big’s protection and employ(?) and she believed in voodoo, but that isn’t really explained. Her strange mystic abilities are real, but the voodoo that all of these people believed in was faked, in this case, by Mr. Big. Struck me as strange when Fleming when into so much trouble to describe voodoo and its practice.
Rory Kinnear did a fine job of reading this. I found the irony of him reading a Bond novel supremely high when I have seen him play the Chief of Staff, a Bill Tanner, in several films. He kept the story moving along nicely, while not tripping up on anything awkward. Fleming has his moments. Perhaps this was not, however, the novel for Kinnear to read, as his American accent is fairly poor. I knew that Felix is meant to be from Texas, but it was not heard from Kinnear’s reading. His New York sounded the same as his generic American, which is to say, vaguely British. His Jamaican and Haitian were both fine, and I liked his individual characters. They were lively and distinct. His Bond, in particular, was quite good.
Not my favorite Bond story, but still a fun few hours, certainly worth the time and money.
This book portrays a much more human James Bond that doesn't have physics-defying, magical gadgets to save the day as portrayed in the theatrical version. I grew up loving the movies but the books, so far, are proving to be superior.
This reader did a phenomenal job. Definitely want to listen to this again! This book is very gripping.
As the rest of the Bond books, Live and Let Die takes you to the scene where you can picture all the events happening. I always hate when the books end because the are that good.
If your only experience with this title is through the Roger Moore film, then this will be a refreshing change. This is James Bond at his most realistic, without the puns, innuendos, and humorous asides to anyone listening. (Don't get me wrong - I love the films, but these novels are the real deal from which all those ideas sprang.) Here is an, admittedly, dated spy novel with some great elements. If you enjoyed the films you will see plot points that show up in several different films that you probably did not realized originated here. If you enjoy spy novels in general this is a good one.
I should state that when I mentioned that it was dated, it primarily relates to issues relating to black characters. Terminology is of-it's-time referring to them simply as negroes and it makes some very broad racial characterizations that were thought of as accurate back in the day when this was written. I do not get the sense that Ian Fleming was racist in any way. He simply wrote what to the current beliefs and societal views were at that time. Take that into account if you are sensitive to these matters. The novel is approximately 60+ years old.
Bottom line: If you like spy novels in general or James Bond in any form, you owe it to yourself to see how they all began and read Flemings works. This is the second of the series but stands pretty well on it's own. There are a couple minor references to Casino Royale but that is not required reading to enjoy this novel.
Ian Fleming really has a flare and it is easy to see why they became hit movies when starring the one and only Sean Connery. I enjoy
that Bond is more human sensitive and relies Less on gadgetry. Awkward that people are referred to by their skin color. For example, "the Negro brought the beer to the table" Etc.
Love Bond. I could see scenes from several of the movies in this book......in all of them really. I don't understand how people expect "all" books to be written like they are today, with all the political correctness. It was the '50s', so expect 50's writing. I don't think this book was racist at all and agree with the review before mine.....pro not negative. Interesting to see how the English saw us Americans, period. Great book, good reading.