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)

REVENGE

Super listen! From the begining I was hooked. The meshing of the characters are great. Good action, good ending

No surprises

Unlike Littell's very good book "The Company" this book has no surprises in it - one can see the end from the beginning. Not very believable.

Well narrated packed with action

Where does The Amateur rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks third, after The Company by the same witer and a book from King

Who was your favorite character and why?

The sorcerer
authentic

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

Excellent narrator. the best I know

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Makes you wonder what CIA really means

The further you get into this story, the more you cheer for the hero and boo the CIA. Must read or listen to for anyone at all concerned for where that country is now. Great plot and story, the characters are people you want to either hate or cheer for. Hard to stop once you have started.

Great

Littell and Brick again. Good stuff and a great way to spend a few hours.

Good Listen

This was my first book by the author. After reading the reviews of the authors books I was interested in getting the Company, but it???s a 40 hour book. So I decided to test the waters with this one first and ignore some of the negative reviews others have given ??? and was glad I did. I found it to be an excellent and completely enjoyable listen. Just the right level of character and plot development. The author made this unlikely hero a truly interesting character and provided just the right level of detail for the supporting characters.

I really don???t understand the criticism others are making and glad I ignored them and gave this one a try. I actually wish it would have been a longer book with more detail.

I also enjoyed the narration of Scott Brick who continues to show why he is one of the best - at least in my mind.

So I just got the company and have settled in for, what I hope to be, some enjoyable commutes. If you like this genre, and agree with some of my past reviews, you can trust me that you won't be disappointed.

A classic dilemma reminiscent of Tom Clanncy in strategy with the strategy of the Pink Pather with a dose of John LeCarre Twist

A classic ending with an O'Henry Twist and Suspense and intrigue of Tom Clancy or John Le'Carre
I

Fast-paced Edge-of-your-seat Spy Novel

I finished this book in two days. It is a well-constructed amazing tale of revenge, love, espionage. I love Robert Littell novels and Scott Brick is an amazing story teller. The Company is another must!

Entertaining

Really good and entertaining. Good pacing. Not dated…. Overall..,excellent and difficult to put down.

just average

I would hardly call this book "a fast paced thriller". At times, the book was downright boring. Perhaps it is one of those books that would actually be better to read, not listen to. Scott Brick is excellent, but even he needs a little more to work with than this ho hum novel. I'm sorry I wasted the book credit.