The Amateur

A Novel of Revenge

By: Robert Littell

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In a world of professionals, Charlie Heller is the Amateur, and he's at the center of a chillingly engrossing tale of espionage and intrigue, written by master-of-the-genre Robert Littell.

In this "first-rate thriller" (Chicago Tribune), Charlie Heller is an ace cryptographer for the Company. He's a quiet man with a quiet job in a back office. But when terrorists shoot his fiancee in cold blood and Heller learns that the Agency has decided not to pursue those responsible, his life takes an abrupt turn. He was not a blackmailer but he will force the CIA's hand. He was not an assassin but he will penetrate the Iron Curtain with the intent to kill. Driven by an obsessive need for revenge, targeted for elimination by the CIA itself, Heller is an amateur with a one-in-a-million chance of success.

With last year's publication of his New York Times best seller The Company, Robert Littell reestablished his position as one of our top writers of intelligent, ironic, and always entertaining espionage thrillers. After many years The Amateur, a cult classic among aficionados, is finally available in audio.

©1981 Robert Littell (P)2003 New Millenium Audio, All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

"Superb...real terror...a hall-of-mirrors showdown...plus last-minute twists...Littell is in top form." (Kirkus)
"A taut, chilling plot and a protagonist as memorable as one of Len Deighton's, or le Carre's George Smiley." (The New York Times Book Review)

A Little Better than Just OK

I'm thinking closer to 3 1/2 stars. I almost quit listening about 1/2 way thru because it was getting pretty boring, but then things started to pick up a bit. I doubt I'd listen to this book again, and while I don't feel like I wasted a credit, I didn't get as much book as I had hoped for.

Short Work for Littell

<B><U>The Amateur</U></B> is an engaging short story, by Littell's standards - see <B><U>The Company</U></B> - that is a predictable but enjoyable listen. Much of the action after Heller's plans are in motion is telegraphed during his extorted training from the CIA. If you are into vengance, there is plenty of it here, but not many surprises.

Impeccable narration is provided by Scott Brick as usual.

Quick read. Highly recommended.

This was a fantastic download. Narrated by Scott Brick. Great story, quick and gripping. Really held my attention. Five stars.

Good Littel Writing Not "The Company"

It is an interesting book. I like that revenge is satisfied. Though, the intricacies of "The Company" are wholly different then what happens in the Amateur. I do not think that is reason, not to read it, but to better set your expectations.

Evocative and atmospheric, with eccentric heroes

This novel contemplates the nature of good and evil, and the tendency of enemies to come to resemble each other in their pragmatic use of violence for state ends. What makes it outstanding is the evocative writing, descriptions of place and time and the brilliantly drawn characters. At times, it felt like a Wes Anderson movie. There are plenty of fascinating rabbit holes, a Littell trademark. And the prerequisite tension and twists. However it surpasses the run-of-the-mill all twists all plot novels that move fast but have nothing to say and leave you empty and queasy, like fast food.

Please, another voice

This is probably heresy, but I'm tired of hearing books read by Scott Brick. I guess because I buy this genre a lot, the majority of books I have are read by him. I'm not sure this book was only three stars because of the writing, or because I get Scott Brick confused with all the other characters he's been in other books. I just listened to Solomon vs. Lord and the person who read that would be great in this genre.

Anyway, I'm having an extremely hard time finishing this book and I'm kind of tired of hearing Brick use a New York Jewish accent to suffice for Czech, Polish, Russian characters.

I love Joe Montegna and Len Cariou... let's have more of them too.

Author and Narrator: Perfect Match

I have had the pleasure of listen to several novels by Robert Littell narrated by Scott Brick. The Amateur was one I had missed, until now. This is a wonderful story, well told.

Too implausable for me

What did you like best about The Amateur? What did you like least?

The best thing was the premise. The "facts" of the story were compelling. There were certainly some good moments and I liked the characters for the most part. I just found there were too many unbelievable circumstances, and some very heavy-handed foreshadowing.

SEMI-SPOILER ALERT:
Most of the surprises were not surprises at all. But the "x-ray death" was just plain silly, only to be topped by the "house of mirrors!" Implausible to say the least, contrived is being generous, but totally unnecessary (unless you hope to sell the book as a screenplay) to the point of destroying the continuity seems accurate. I liked The Company, but I found these predictable and fantastic "scenes" too over-the-top for me.

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert Littell again?

I may give him one more chance, after I listen to all the le Carre.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

And the narration was excellent as usual for Scott Brick.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I would skip the movie for sure.

Littell in my mind is one of the best in espionage

Littell and Brick go very well together. I wish more authors could write like Littell and more narrators were like Brick. A great 8 hours story. Never boring. I always tend to enjoy longer books, but occasionally a shorter book is a breath of fresh air. This is an excellent choice for a shorter book that feels longer. I will definitely listen to all of Littell's books.

More CIA from Littell

Not quite as good as "The Company" but excellent nevertheless. Great ending. Wished it were longer.