The Golden Gate

By: Alistair MacLean

Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

A tense and nerve-shattering classic from the highly acclaimed master of action and suspense.

A rolling for Knox is how the journalists describe the Presidential motorcade as it enters San Francisco across the Golden Gate. Even the ever-watchful FBI believe it is impregnable - as it has to be with the President and two Arab potentates aboard.

But halfway across the bridge the unthinkable happens. Before the eyes of the world a master criminal pulls off the most spectacular kidnapping in modern times....

©1963 Devoran Trustees Ltd (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Startlingly good...tense...ingenious." ( Sunday Express)

"Alistair MacLean is a magnificent storyteller." ( Sunday Mirror)

Another fabulous adventure!

Alistair MacLean Is always up for a good time. I’ve never read a book of his and been disappointed! This is another great adventure, I read the book several times before the audiobook came out, so I was really thrilled to see it available! For those who found the Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare a bit bloodthirsty, this one involves absolutely no bloodshed at all, but the good guys triumphing over the bad guys. Suitable cloak and dagger, spy-style stuff, with a happy ending as always. Revson is a great addition to the MacLean heroes!

Great book

The story was entertaining, if not his absolute best work.
personally I didn't mind the narrator all.

Interesting story

The story was interesting, but I was distracted by all of the Americans using British phrases. The buses were “earthed” not grounded. They were taken to hospital, not the hospital. I understand the doctor, he was from Ireland, but Branson was the son of an American banker.

Narrator

I have a problem with the narrator voice I find it to be irritating. I am a great fan of Alistair Maclean books

good, but possibly outdated

The story was enjoyable, but the ability of people to break in hijack parts of the presidential motorcade these days is impossible. Therefore the fundamental premise of the story no longer exists. But if you suspend your belief the story is good.

Fantastic

Gripping. Satisfying. One of MacLean's best. Lots of dry humor. Despite the bad guy's most foolproof plan, things spiral out of their control.

Next...

Alistair Maclean, nothing else really needs saying. I grew up reading these as my introduction to spy/thriller/mystery and having them begin to be Audibled is just cause for a happy dance. The narration was easy to listen to and thus, enjoyable. Now to keep my eye out for which other they will do... hoping to see The Golden Rendezvous, and Way to a Dusty Death...
Anyway, more credits, and cash, will be exchanged for more Mavcean's.

Irritating dialogue performance

I enjoyed reading this book several times over the years, and I was hoping to find an audiobook. The performance of the narrative passages was good, but the reader performed serious roles with voices that were ridiculous and did not fit the gravity of the characters or their situation. I tried to ignore it and keep listening, but I had to abandon the book around chapter 5.

Good book; Awful narrator

A good narrator can make a book, an awful narrator ruins a good book. This narrator thinks that the only way narrate is for long dramatic pauses. If you removed his pauses you would shave off an hour of the book. His style is irritating to say the least. I know I will never buy another book Jonathan Oliver has narrated.

What? Who?

Love most of the Alistair MacLean novels but this one is bad on so many different levels. It’s supposed to be about Americans but no one in the novel sounds or acts like an American. Plot is one long series of sequences the are ludicrous.