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Red Sparrow
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
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Publisher's summary
The start of a major career! A gripping, highly commercial espionage thriller written with the delicious insider detail and up-to-the-minute insight only known to a veteran CIA spook.
In today's Russia, dominated by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, state intelligence officer Dominika Egorova struggles to survive in the cast-iron bureaucracy of post-Soviet intelligence. Drafted against her will to become a "Sparrow" - a trained seductress in the service, Dominika is assigned to operate against Nathaniel Nash, a first-tour CIA officer who handles the CIA's most sensitive penetration of Russian intelligence. The two young intelligence officers, trained in their respective spy schools, collide in a charged atmosphere of tradecraft, deception, and inevitably, a forbidden spiral of carnal attraction that threatens their careers and the security of America's valuable mole in Moscow.
Seeking revenge against her soulless masters, Dominika begins a fatal double life, recruited by the CIA to ferret out a high-level traitor in Washington - hunt down a Russian illegal buried deep in the U.S. military and, against all odds, to return to Moscow as the new-generation penetration of Putin's intelligence service. Dominika and Nathaniel's impossible love affair and twisted spy game come to a deadly conclusion in the shocking climax of this electrifying, up-to-the minute spy thriller.
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- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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A rising star at her prestigious Seattle law firm, Dana Hill knows all about stress. She pours herself into her work and family with all the energy she has. But her carefully balanced life is about to be turned upside down. First a frightening medical diagnosis forces her to reassess her roles as a lawyer, mother, and wife to a man she suddenly no longer trusts. Then her life is rocked further by the shocking and brutal murder of her twin brother.
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Better than average mystery/thriller
- By T. McCloskey on 10-08-15
By: Robert Dugoni
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The Patriots
- A Novel
- By: Sana Krasikov
- Narrated by: Suzanne Toren, George Guidall
- Length: 22 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Florence Fein grows up in Brooklyn in the 1930s, in a family that is gaining a foothold in the middle class. At City College she becomes engaged politically with the left-leaning student groups, and eventually, in the midst of the Depression, she takes a job with a trade organization that has a position for her in Moscow. There, she falls in love with another expatriate American and has a son. Soon after, Florence is sent to a work camp and her son to an orphanage.
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Point of View of characters, past and present collide
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By: Sana Krasikov
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State of the Onion
- A White House Chef Mystery, Book 1
- By: Julie Hyzy
- Narrated by: Eileen Stevens
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Introducing White House Assistant Chef Olivia Paras, who is rising-and sleuthing-to the top. Includes recipes for a complete presidential menu! Never let them see you sweat-that's White House Assistant Chef Olivia Paras's motto, which is pretty hard to honor in the most important kitchen in the world. She's hell-bent on earning her dream job, Executive Chef. There's just one thing: Her nemesis is vying for it, too. Well, that and the fact that an elusive assassin wants to see her fry.
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Annoying
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By: Julie Hyzy
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Wormwood
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1969. Eloise Shepherd, one of MI6's brightest rising stars, is working undercover in Soviet Russia as Magdalina Novikova. Her mission is to persuade nuclear physicist Stanislav Kalashnik to defect and bring his knowledge of Russian weapons back to the UK. On the verge of success, the operation fails suddenly and spectacularly. Seventeen years later, Kalashnik is Chief Engineer at the power plant near Pripyat known as Chernobyl. His concerns for the safety of the plant are growing.
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okay
- By ALICIA on 05-13-22
By: Mark Dawson
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Cursed
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Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong. She's cursed. He's damned. Together, they make one hell of a team. Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.
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Great PNR start!
- By Tracy64 on 11-01-14
By: S. J. Harper
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The Voice of the Night with Short Story, "Silence"
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No one could understand why Colin and Roy were best friends. Colin was so shy; Roy was so popular. Colin was fascinated by Roy - and Roy was fascinated by death. Then one day, Roy asked his timid friend: “You ever killed anything?” From that moment on, the two were bound together in a game too terrifying to imagine - and too irresistible to stop.
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can not believe dean koontz wrote this book
- By Anonymous User on 10-05-21
By: Dean Koontz
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The Unlikely Spy
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“In wartime,” Winston Churchill wrote, “truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” For Britain’s counterintelligence operations, this meant finding the unlikeliest agent imaginable - a history professor named Alfred Vicary, handpicked by Churchill himself to expose a highly dangerous, but unknown, traitor. The Nazis, however, have also chosen an unlikely agent.
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The Unlikely Spy
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By: Daniel Silva
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The Risk Agent
- Risk Agent, Book 1
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Grace Chu is an American-educated Chinese national now working as a forensic accountant after serving in the Chinese army as an intelligence officer. John Knox is an American who parlayed his military service during the first Iraqi war into a lucrative import/export business, which now provides him the official access he needs to work freelance undercover operations throughout the world. Both are highly skilled operatives capable of deft subterfuge or extreme violence, if circumstances require.
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Ridley is back, but he wasn't far away.
- By Dave Staats on 06-27-12
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The Assassins Gallery
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In 1945, a ruthless female assassin attempts to take down the ultimate target: Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And an unlikely hero, Professor Mikhal Lammeck, may be the only one who can stop her.
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Very Good Listen
- By Andrew Stone on 12-20-12
By: David L. Robbins
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Scorpion Betrayal
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The head of Egypt's State Internal Security is brutally murdered in a Cairo cafe - his assailant a faceless killer known only as "the Palestinian". It is the opening move in a chilling game of terror that has caught the international intelligence community completely off-guard, and the CIA turns to the one man they believe can get to the twisted roots of a looming nightmare shrouded in mystery: a former Company operative code-named Scorpion.
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Detailed espionage, character development shallow
- By Kathryn on 11-20-13
By: Andrew Kaplan
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What listeners say about Red Sparrow
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- Mel
- 06-13-13
Sexy Saucy Spies
After a 33 year career working as a covert operative with the C.I.A., Matthews no doubt could have written an intriguing best seller about his days of espionage. But evidenced by this debut novel, Matthews not only knows his tradecraft, he has the writing chops to produce better than a one time tell-all. In the tradition of other great former spy-turned-novelists, Fleming, McCarry, le Carré -- Red Sparrow is a smart, tightly constructed novel that lays out such an information-packed, step by step foundation, that the listener feels complicit in the Cold War cat and mouse. Worthy of comparisons to the aforementioned authors...and with just enough playfulness to apparently keep it out of the Federal shredders.
This is the caliber of novel you expect from a veteran author -- or should I say "seasoned" author? Included at the end of each chapter is the recipe for some exotic dish that one of the characters has been noshing on -- an addition that has some critic's calling the bonus recipe a distraction and an unnecessary and gimmick. (I say if James Bond can have Pussy Galore, a razor brimmed bowler hat, and exploding toothpaste - Matthews can give his readers recipes.) Ignore these effete literary snobs; Matthew intentionally provided them with a bull's eye, saying in an interview he did, "The real world of intelligence work is a lot of waiting, analysis, research, so I had to insert some excitement in the fictional plot." Until reading the interview, I had wondered if a clue was provided in each recipe; every element of this story is so well constructed it would make sense--but not so...sometimes a red herring is just a red herring.
Also raising a critical eyebrow is the synesthete seductress (she sees colors around people), Russian intelligence officer Dominika. Her aura-enhanced vision however, is blessedly not an X-man-ish superpower, but an actual phenomenon that some people claim to experience (including author Vladim Nabokov). The condition is used as an ineffectual trait that adds interest to her character without really affecting her performance or the story. This was a bigger issue than the recipe, and I'm still chewing on that element being thrown into classic spy fiction...wondering if Matthews has future plans with this fascinating female spy.
The detail here is absorbing; the treachery and deceit will have you wide-eyed and tense, paranoid about dotting an "i" (the dot could be the message!). Maybe the recipes were at least a hint about how to enjoy this novel...This kind of from the ground up detailing takes time; the tension builds slowly, like the warm kettle of water that slowly comes to a boil and catches/cooks that proverbial frog...when it starts to bubble it is fast and furious. And unblinkingly vicious.
A difficult novel to narrate, with the Russian characters, dialogue, and terms, and Jeremy Bobb adds an understated panache to the story with his reading. Great read/highly recommend to fans of spy fiction. Best case scenario: Matthews continues with this character and his unique style and *packaging* (I, for one, would love the cookbook).
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- Aaron
- 01-12-14
Good Spy Novel (with a few quirks)
Red Sparrow is the debut novel from a CIA retiree with 33 years experience. It has a certain ring of authenticity throughout. Good thing he can write also!
A few things that set this book apart from other spy novels (for better or for worse):
1. The main character has a "sixth-sense" that allows her instincts to 'sense' what another personality is feeling (ie., anger, betrayal, deceit, lust, etc...).
She can see another person's "aura" which shows their true "colors" and this aura flares when agitated regardless of other outward appearances by the person. This would give an obvious advantage to the person who could read this aura. This didn't particularly bother me, as I just put it down as a literary form to express heightened instincts that were visible to the character and reader, or etc...I could see how this might bother other readers though, as it borders on the supernatural or silly when in the context of a serious espionage novel, but it was fine.
2. Each chapter ended with a recipe for a food that was tasted by the main characters somewhere in the previous chapter.
I actually enjoyed this aspect, although other reviewers had stated an annoyance or the superfluity of it. Being a spy novel it could easily be seen as a way to pass information to a knowing party, where another party would see it only as mundane information. Another reason I liked the recipes included, is because they were interesting. They added a dimension to the story that I often listen for: sights, sounds, SMELLS, tastes, etc...
The author really seemed to love cooking and the food sounded really tasty at times! I didn't think this was overdone either, as the recipe normally took about one-two minutes to recite.
It was otherwise a satisfying spy novel, and the conclusion was somewhat unique. I would highly recommend to fans of this genre.
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- Darwin8u
- 06-24-13
Next generation of spy-turned-spy novelist is here
The next generation of spy-turned-spy novelist is here. Joining Graham Greene, Somerset Maugham, Ian Flemming, John le Carré, James Church, (and maybe -- if my suspicions are correct -- Robert Littell and Olen Steinhauer too), Jason Matthews shows that most of the best spy fiction is actually written by former spies/spooks.
While not a perfect espionage novel (using recipes to separate the chapters seems a little overcooked and trite), the Red Sparrow is still an amazing debut novel. When the novel gets away from acrobatic sex and ethnic food and instead sticks with spy craft, agent development, mole detection, etc., it is brilliant. 'Red Sparrow' easily fits into the same stature of post-Cold War spy thrillers that are currently only produced by le Carré, Steinhauer, Littell, and Church.
So yes, it isn't exactly spy literature, but it is a fun and diversionary summer read that mixes a low brow Bond (sexy limping vixens and absurdly wicked villains) with more high brow Smiley (complexity of motivations and opacity of belief). This mixture could have almost sunk the novel, but Matthews pulls it off with a bold flourish that is both surprising and enjoyable. Thanks @Melinda for the recommendation.
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71 people found this helpful
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- John
- 02-22-14
Four across - But not exactly sure why.
To try and put it words...... It wasn't enough of any one thing. I see why people liked it - But I don't know why it was loved by most. It was a spy novel without too much mystery. A CIA novel without enough assassinations. A love story that didn't have enough connection. I didn't hate it - But I surely didn't love it...... What can I say?
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58 people found this helpful
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- Gretchen
- 06-08-13
6 stars - intelligent and very well crafted
Summary- solid writing, interesting characters, captivating story, but not appropriate for everyone due to sometimes violent situations
Well researched, concise yet rich writing, and intriguing characters make this one of my favorite audio books. Nearly 18 hours long, I expected to get impatient before reaching the end; but, the pace of this spy thriller kept me invested until the last word. Matthews does a beautiful job providing details without 'data dumps'. In other words, the reader learns about the characters, situations, and locales naturally through dialog and action rather than monotonous descriptions. This writer reminds me of Ken Follett.
The plot takes absorbing turns. I won't say anymore on that to avoid spoilers - but it was exceptional. Some might not enjoy this sometimes grim story of hard people who survive by telling lies and remaining emotionally distant.
The narrator's voice and speaking style fits the story. His Russian was convincing, a real professional.
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57 people found this helpful
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- Philip
- 01-10-14
One of the Best Espionage Thrillers I've Ever Read
Smart and offering authentic spycraft detail accompanied by literary and psychological complexity and craftmanship,. With the boldness and sophisticated story-telling that made it cat-nip for a major film studio auction, Jason Matthews pulls off a rare combination of tension and romance. The menu of dishes at the end of each chapter, featuring a surprising blend of communist and capitalistic cuisine, is a playful and amusing counterpoint to the tension and real-life drama of the story. The narrator is brilliant in not overplaying the characters yet managing to convey the essence of each.person's life force. Perhaps, the best espionage thriller I have ever read!
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53 people found this helpful
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- Chip Atkinson
- 07-02-13
One of the best spy stories I've ever read!
It's not surprising Jason Matthews is a former agent, because this book rates with the best of the best. The inner workings and politics of the CIA are realistic, smart and edgy. Best of all, Red Sparrow kept me on the edge of my seat. I finished this in 2 days!
The characters are distinct and well developed. The story is so relevant to today's political climate and so well done I kept thinking it was real.
Another interesting aspect of the novel is how the FBI and CIA really work together. It's not a great relationship though its clear from Matthews perspective they respect each other.
At the end of any chapter where a meal plays into the story, the author provides a recipe! Very clever as they seem so good I want the hard copy!
The narration is superb.
This is an easy 5 star listen.
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43 people found this helpful
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- AudioAddict
- 03-26-18
Espionage Extraordinaire!
STORY (Espionage) - You will love this book and will not want to stop listening! Dominika, the main character, is a beautiful young Russian woman who is trained to be a spy. She is also sent to what some call "whore school," where she learns seduction skills to better allow her to spy on unsuspecting men. Despite her training, she doesn't use sexual entrapment often, although I suspect the movie with Jennifer Lawrence is full of it, but I digress.
This book is full of everything you'd expect -- surveillance, motives, counter-motives, double-cross -- and you can really get into the heads of the players and become absorbed in their thinking. There is also a small touch of romance. This book is not about chase scenes and shoot-em-up action. It's more cerebral about who is doing what and why. There is nonstop entertainment with twists and turns that you probably won't see coming till, bam, there it is. There is also an added touch of Russian cooking recipes. They are short and added at the end of each chapter, and they are of something a character has just eaten. They are short (about 30 seconds) and don't detract from the flow of the story, but I caught myself paying attention to whatever the characters ate and anticipating the recipe.
PERFORMANCE - Jeremy Bobb does a good job with this book, especially pronouncing the many Russian words that are thrown in here and there. But I give him a mediocre 3 rating because he doesn't use different voices to distinguish characters and I've come to anticipate that from Audible narrators.
OVERALL - There are some F-bombs and cursing, but not a lot. There are also a few sex scenes that are neither long nor overly explicit. This is book one of a trilogy so the story will continue, but this one comes to a tidy conclusion if you choose not to continue the series. I would 100% recommend this book to any listener who enjoys espionage!
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- Prashant
- 10-22-13
Reminds me of Homeland but offers so much more!
What made the experience of listening to Red Sparrow the most enjoyable?
Constant mind games keep the listener thinking of the next possible move. This book almost puts you in the shoes of the young intelligence agents. Very gripping and very well written. Two thumbs way up.
What other book might you compare Red Sparrow to and why?
I'd compare it to the TV show Homeland
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
both
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28 people found this helpful
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- Michal A. Joyner
- 07-15-13
Excellent read, but would love the recipes
What did you love best about Red Sparrow?
This was an amazing spy story. Even at the last 10 minutes of the book, I did not know how it would end.
My only regret was that I don't have copies of the recipes. Each chapter ends with a recipe and some of them sounded amazing.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Dominica. Very complicated character!
Which character – as performed by Jeremy Bobb – was your favorite?
Nate! Would love to know him also.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The end. Can't discuss or it would give it away.
Any additional comments?
I wish audible would put a pdf. on the site that included the recipes.
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20 people found this helpful