Top Secret

Clandestine Operations, Book 1

By: W.E.B. Griffin, William E. Butterworth IV

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, a brand-new series about the Cold War - and a different breed of warrior.

In the first weeks after World War II, a squeaky-clean new second lieutenant named James D. Cronley Jr. is spotted and recruited for a new enterprise that will eventually be transformed into something called the CIA. One war may have ended, but another one has already begun, against an enemy that is bigger, smarter, and more vicious: The Soviet Union.

The Soviets have hit the ground running, and Cronley's job is to help frustrate them, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. His recruiter thinks he has the potential to become an asset - though, of course, he could also screw up spectacularly. And in his first assignment, it looks like that's exactly what might happen. He's got seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, but Cronley's managed to rile up his superior officers (he seems to have a talent for it), and if he fails, it could be one of the shortest intelligence careers in history.

There are enemies everywhere - and, as Cronley is about to find out, some of them even wear the same uniform he does.

©2014 W. E.B. Griffin (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Recorded by arrangement with G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

another good pick

another good story character development good enjoyed the historical references in the old army lingo

Horrible Narration

I am a big fan of Griffin's works including this one. It's been a few years since I'd read this series so I decided to get the audio version to listen to while on the road. I am very disappointed and will be requesting a refund.

Performance

If you could sum up Top Secret in three words, what would they be?

Very good story.

How could the performance have been better?

I have enjoyed all the previous books, but this narrator was not nearly as good as the previous ones.

Colonel Klink All Over Again

This is not the best WEB Griffin I have read to date, and I have read a lot. Unfortunately, the narrator turned it into a cliche which is grossly unfair to Griffin. Clearly Cendese watched old episodes of Hogan's Heroes to prepare for the various characters in Top Secret (if you're too young, Google the comedy series; you'll see what I mean). Since this is Book 1 in the series, you will probably want to read it anyway, but be prepared for shades of Colonel Klink.

the start of the CIA

What made the experience of listening to Top Secret the most enjoyable?

I loved the story, I loved the movement the story had to it. It wasn't action filled by any means. But it was a great story and the way it was told

What was one of the most memorable moments of Top Secret?

The ending, I think the way it ended I liked that a lot. I won't talk about it as I don't wish to ruin the ending of a good book and great story for anyone

What does Alexander Cendese bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I liked how he read the Characters, I think he did a great job telling us a story and he helped give that story life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Before there was a CIA....The birth of a CIA

Any additional comments?

Very solid story on the birth of what would be the CIA

considering all the 4/5 star ratings

I was very disappointed with this book. The narrator did a subpar job with narration in my opinion which can absolutely ruin a book. That is the ONLY reason I gave it 3 stars, benefit of the doubt. Perhaps if they had used a better narrator I would have liked the book more.
I can say the writing wasn't great. You would have thought a Junior writer was responsible. One minute he uses the term "male member" and the next minute he uses the F word. Repeatedly, like every sentence for the next 5 or 6 sentences. Just very inconsistent. You're also forced to listen to spelled out encrypted and decrypted messages back and forth between stations rather than the author simply stating something like the radios were tested for proper encryption and decryption operation. Painfully boring...

It could have been a good book but overall I was very disappointed.

Another great work

Griffin always hits a home run with his historical fiction, and this one is no different.

Intelligence

Listened while driving
Thoroughly enjoyed the story.
It gave insight into the covert operations during the war.

Great story, Horrible voice characterizations by t

Would you try another book from W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth and/or Alexander Cendese?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

Typical WEB Griffin great story

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Alexander Cendese?

Any of the other narrators who have narrated the Griffin audio books. Dick (?) Hill comes to mind. Cendese`s voice characterizations are so awful, so over the top and annoying that I recorded the book for my father, rather than subjecting him to this guy. If he records the next one, I`ll pass on it and record it myself.Yes

Could you see Top Secret being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes. All the Griffin series` should be made into movies. The cast of The West Wing jumps to mind.

Any additional comments?

Audiobooks should be read, not "performed". Slight changes in voice or tone to differentiate speakers are desired, but subtly, as in most of the Griffin and the "Horatio Hornblower" series.

Cliff Hanger, Great Read

Lots of twists and turns I did not expect. Ending left you wanting more
Ready for the next book.