Spandau Phoenix

By: Greg Iles

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 26 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Spandau Diary - what was in it? Why did the secret intelligence agencies of every major power want it? Why was a brave and beautiful woman kidnapped to get it? Why did a chain of deception and violent death lash out across the globe, from survivors of the Nazi past to warriors in this new conflict about to explode? Why did the world's entire history of World War II have to be rewritten as the future hung over a nightmare abyss?

©1994 Greg Iles (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Excellent and intense

I always feel sad when I finish a book by Greg Iles. His books are intense, well researched, well imagined and well written. They always include a few characters who are ethical and courageous (and it's not bravado, but a position grounded in the character's personal history and experience). Spandau Phoenix was written years before Black Cross, but takes place in a more recent period. Both books have to do with the Nazi era, the formation of the state of Israel, Jewish history and character. Spandau Phoenix is plausible fiction about hatreds that remain today from WWII, a central character in Nazi history (Rudolph Hess) and actions of the British and the Russians during the war, and potential threats to the survival of the state of Israel that are ongoing. Iles improved my understanding and perspective on what happened then and its impact on today. Dick HIll is the perfect narrator.

22 of 23 people found this review helpful

Well Told Story of Intrigue and Suspense

Greg Iles is a wonderful story teller and this book is a thrilling tale of espionage, heart-stopping suspense and action. This well-told story spans more than 50 years. It centers on the real identity of Rudolf Hess and whether members of the Royal family plotted with Hitler to save England during WWII. It all begins with a policeman innocently finding notes left by a recently deceased elderly prisoner in Spandau prison.

I would have given it a full 5 stars but as has been pointed out by other reviewers, the story has a few too many plot lines and characters than it needs. There are Nazis, neo Nazis, KGB, all manner of spies, police and secret police (Russian, British, South African, Israeli and American), assassins, Arab terrorists, Cuban and Columbian mercenaries, nuclear weapons, arms dealers, drug dealers ???. This shouldn???t stop anyone from enjoying the ride; just know that it???s going to be a wild one.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Complex plot with plenty of action.

I loved Black Cross by Iles and this book also did not disappoint. Listen to Black Cross first if you plan to get both books. Great characters and more plot surprises than most books. I hope Greg Iles goes back to writing more military/espionage books, he clearly does a great job and researches his books well. Narration was also a big plus and made the book flow easily. Easily a five star book. Highly recommend.

17 of 20 people found this review helpful

What a deal! 5 story lines for the price of one

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If he had chosen 1 of the seemingly 5 story lines in this book. The start was great, an old WWII Nazi conspiracy. Then there was some weird bomb. Then a multinational corporation that was doing illegal things. And then a US soldier. About 3 of the 5 MIGHT have been a good book on their own, so I guess the author figured "if 3 are OK, then combined they are GREAT!" He was wrong.

Would you ever listen to anything by Greg Iles again?

Maybe abridged. Maybe.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dick Hill?

Sure.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Spandau Phoenix?

A LOT of the crazy nazi talk. I literally he fast forward on about 15 minutes at one point and the same dude was still talking about crazy Nazi crap.

Any additional comments?

He got REALLY preachy towards the end. It was like the last few years of MASH.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good Story, Good action, Excellent narrator

This book is filled with excellent action, has a lot of interesting characters and a bit of history.

It does manage to drag in a few spots, but not too much.

I can't understand other reviewer's complaints about the narrator. Granted he's not Rich Little, but without his accents and voices, the book would not have been nearly as enjoyable.

Good read - recommended.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Simply WOW!!!!!

This is truly truly an amazing amazing roller coaster of a story that tugs at you in different directions. In a way it is a continuation of Black Cross but stands on its own. There are quite a few characters and it takes a little bit of time to know who is who but once you do....you are spun into an amazing web that just keeps going and going. You never really know what is going to happen as there are a number of twists and turns that keep you engaged. I highly highly recommend this book.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Too Long

What did you like best about Spandau Phoenix? What did you like least?

This is a pretty good book but not up to Illes' standards. While some of his other works, e.g.the Penn Cage series, are comparably long, they are so well written that it's hard to put them down. Unfortunately Spandau Phoenix does not meet this standard.

What didn’t you like about Dick Hill’s performance?

Very little. I cannot understand why Dick Hill is so popular. When he is reading in a normal tone, he's OK, but his attempts at foreign (and female) accents are insufferable and annoying. Unlike John Lee (Century trilogy) whose accents and pronunciations are superb, Hill's are amateurish and exaggerated.

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

No

Any additional comments?

I wish Illes would either continue the Penn Cage series or begin another one.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Long But Engrossing

This audiobook is over 26 hours and it is surprisingly engrossing. The story has many threads and the author keeps them flowing. My only problem with this audiobook was the narrator. He does many things well but he makes all women and all foreigners (particularly Germans) sound as though they are whining and crying.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Characters, imagery and story are all 5 star

As your mouse hovers over the cover to get a description of the book the concern will be 26hrs? Can any book hold your attention that long? This one can. Dick Hill brings the characters to life and Greg Iles provides the story with imagery and detail that will make you wonder if the movie can do the book justice.

I was sorry to have the book come to an end and will definitely be looking for more of Greg's work.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

GREAT BOOK

After reading the Black Cross, Spandu Phoenix made a superb sequel. It was very fast passed and a lot of characters to remember but overall a very will written and narrated book.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful