Shibumi

Trevanian's seventies-era storytelling loses nothing in this audio treatment. In a story reminiscent of Ian Fleming, we are treated to exotic locales and a spy-versus-spy plot. Reader Joe Barrett embodies the author's voice ably, whether he's enigmatic assassin Nicholai Hel, narcissistic agency head Mr. Diamond, or a laughable Basque sidekick. The story includes a mountain-climbing manhunt, but overall this is a different breed of spy story--one with a philosophical and political agenda--but no less entertaining a listen. The recording quality is crisp but would benefit from the addition of subtle sound effects to bolster the atmosphere. D.J.B. 2006 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine