The Once and Future Spy

By: Robert Littell

Narrated by: Scott Brick

An elite plan is afoot, a plan so secret and dangerous that its existence is known only to a tiny group of specialists within the innermost core of the CIA. There is virtually no paper trail—but somehow the plan has sprung a leak, and the plotters must urgently plug it—or face deadly consequences. As clandestine worlds collide, the present faces the past, and disturbing moral choices are weighed against a shining patriotic dream. What is the truth? Whose truth should be believed?

©2003 Robert Littell (P)2003 Phoenix Books, Inc.

Don't read this book at once

Strange book. The first 2 hours are not page turners (how do you call that for audibles?). Then it gets into gear. So does Scott Brick (who does an excellent job!). Robert did a fine job by mixing a historic novell into a modern story (although in the beginning I though that I had a part of a different book included.
The characters are hardly made clear (enough left for your imagination).
The end is rushed (so it seems to me) and leaves enough room for the main characters to appear as spies for another countries agency.
For non US readers: the American history is somewhat unclear and makes it hard to understand.
I don't think that you should listen to this book in one sit. Let the chapters sink in, give it some time (at least after the first 2 hours) so what is narrated is getting clearer.
It was my first Robert Littell and at the same time the last.

Keeps drawing the reader further and further in

One of the best spy novels I've listened to in a long time. Each chapter keeps drawing the listener in further and further with question after question piling up.
The ending is still driving me nuts! (In a good way) I'm going to have to listen to it again to see if I missed anything and to try to figure it all out. I really hated to see it come to an end. Totally unpredictable

Not his best work

Not Littell's best work by any means, but tolerable if you've got nothing else to listen to.

Interesting Concept

Would you listen to The Once and Future Spy again? Why?

No. Aside from the fact that I don't listen to stuff twice, it just isn't worth a second listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nate.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When I was wondering what was true and what was made up. The whole concept of "maybe the main character is crazy" is very interesting, but as a reader/listener I want real answers damn it!

Any additional comments?

The author really gets you with this book, and in doing so perhaps gives the reader a taste of what being a spy is really like. You really don't know what's real and what is an evil plot. You might think you know, but careful analysis shows that not knowing is all a part of the book.

A Challenge and it's worth it!

This is my first Robert Littell book and I must admit it was a little confusing at first. However once I got into it this story kept me guessing right up to the very last sentences. Full of twists and turns and very plausible American "foreign policy". It made me think and taught me a little about the American Revolution to boot!
It was narrated by Scott Brick who is one of my favorites and he made the story a pleasure to listen to. Not everyone will agree but you should all judge for yourselves....it is worth your time to do so.