From Publishers WeeklyForsyth writes as if preparing for the movie or television miniseries he knows will surely follow. His multiple focus in terms of characters and settings makes for thrilling cinema and engrossing reading, but in an audio version, a global smattering of Afghani, Arabic, Pakistani, British, Indonesian and other names can cause a bout of verbal vertigo. Wise listeners will replay the first CD or at least part of it. Once the characters, ships and locales are in place, the narrative is much easier to follow, despite Forsyth's love of minutiae. Powell plods through the novel with all the enthusiasm of a distracted Oxbridge tutor. His presentation is careful and eloquent but ultimately dull. He doesn't understand the nuances of most accents, including those of the Americans, all of whom have gruff voices. Powell does best with his performance of Colonel Mike Martin, the reluctant hero of this tale. The action, when it comes, is too little and too late to hold one's attention on audio. Powell's lethargic pace inflates this particular flaw in Forsyth's novel. It would be better to read the print version or wait for the film. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.From BooklistIn Forsyth's latest novel, British and American intelligence forces learn of an impending al-Qaeda terrorist strike. However, they don't know exactly when or where the strike will take place. Their solution: to have one of their own officers infiltrate the terrorist group, posing as one of its own. It's an inventive story, and Forsyth spins it eloquently and with enough nail-biting suspense to leave readers' fingertips raw. One of the masters of the political thriller, Forsyth writes with a bare-bones, reportorial style that makes his stories feel as realistic as anything one might read in the daily newspaper. He set the standard for political thrillers with 1971's Day of the Jackal, and, although he has myriad competitors today, no one else has managed to make the very flatness of the documentarian's style an effective instrument for generating tension. Forsyth's name doesn't draw a crowd the way it used to, but this one deserves the attention of those who read such modern espionage masters as Daniel Silva. David PittCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved "Forsyth's storytelling mastery goes from strength to strength. Don't ever imagine that you know what's going to happen next" The Mirror "Forsyth on top form...the master storyteller has lost none of his touch" Daily Mail "Vintage Forsyth...Back doing what he does best" Sunday Times "Highly readable and with that trademark of impressive detail" Mail on Sunday how do i read books for free with prime The Afghan
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. IntenseBy CustomerI liked this book for the build up to the climax. I found all characters believable, and subject matter relevant for today's world. A good read, fast paced. I loved technical descriptions, they were well done and interesting for me as a layman. Had they been any different I would have skipped over them.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great and exciting reading!By RICHThis is the second time that I read this book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Frederick Forsyth has put together an exciting and highly accurate international thriller that will keep you wanting more. Highly recommended!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. probably my favorite was Fist of GodBy Jason E. BrownI have read and re-read a lot of Forsyth books. probably my favorite was Fist of God, but I like most of his work. Unfortunately I can not include this book in that list. Basically a rehash / recycling of some of the better elements of his previous works (including Fist of God) with a very contrived circumstance, some pointless scenes, predictable turns . . . it really felt like Freddy phoned it in on this one.