The First Commandment

Armand Schultz's deft narration and perfectly rendered characterizations energize this complicated thriller. He's a solid fit for the multifaceted plot, which involves renegade Homeland Security Agent Scott Harvath. The president has ordered Harvath not to investigate an attack on his girlfriend, Tracy, not even when more of Harvath's loved ones experience assaults of biblical proportion and sadistic cruelty. Schultz's versatile range and skill depict Harvath's concern at Tracy's bedside and his murderous resolve to punish those responsible for her injuries, even if it means torture. Meanwhile, the inexplicable release of five terrorists from Guantanamo sends Harvath into deadly pursuit. Schultz's polished performance makes this an audio not to miss. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

June 4, 2007
Bestseller Thor's latest thrill-ride begins in anguish. Scot Harvath, navy SEAL turned Homeland Security superagent, sits at the bedside of girlfriend Tracy Hastings, who's in a deep coma after being gravely wounded at the end of Takedown
. Meanwhile, five terrorists have been released from Guantánamo Bay as part of a secret hostage deal forced upon U.S. president Jack Rutledge. When one of the terrorists starts targeting Scot's friends and family, Scot discovers that the president won't allow the assassin to be hunted down. Soon enough, Scot is on the run from his own government and in pursuit of the killer. Many characters make appearances from earlier books, in particular Scot's ongoing nemesis, the fascinating, intelligence-gathering expert known as the Troll. It's a long, violent, shoot-'em-up, blow-'em-up pulse-pounder that will leave Thor's fans cheering and begging for more.

Narrator George Guidall's forte is the consistency he applies to each character's voice. In this thriller, which involves politics and espionage, Homeland Security Agent Scot Harvath's world is shaken when terrorists released from Guantánamo begin targeting his friends and family. Many of the characters are strong-willed men, but the listener is never lost as Guidall gives personality and clear accents to each: a wealthy dwarf who turns from foe to friend, two former military men who also befriend Harvath, the U.S. president, a host of CIA operatives, and several others. The story is solid and suspenseful. Listeners will enjoy following Harvath's quest for revenge and justice as they conjure images crafted by Guidall. M.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine