Audio Book Review: Unforgettable by Eric James Stone

I enjoyed this entertaining futuristic spy adventure.
Unforgettable
by Eric James Stone
Read by Bryson Carr

Run Time 8h 23min
Release Date: April 20, 2020
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Action Adventure, Mystery, Sci Fi, Spy Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
In the near future, a fluke of quantum mechanics renders Nat Morgan utterly forgettable. No one can remember he exists for more than a minute after he’s gone. It’s a useful ability for his career as a CIA agent, even if he has to keep reminding his boss that he exists. Nat’s attempt to steal a quantum-chip prototype is thwarted when a former FSB agent, Yelena Semyonova, attempts to steal the same technology for the Russian mob. Along with a brilliant Iranian physicist who wants to defect, Nat and Yelena must work together to stop a ruthless billionaire from finishing a quantum supercomputer that will literally control the fate of the world.

Review:
Imagine if your own mother didn’t remember you after walking out of your room for one minute! This is the problem Nat Morgan has faced since he was born! His mother had to be his world as he grew up as the teachers and children in school wouldn’t remember him minutes after he walked out of the room. His mother did a good job until tragedy hit and changed their circumstances.

Nat had to find a way to make it on his own. He managed to convince the CIA to hire him and he was assigned a particular handler with special steps to remember Nat when he calls in from missions.

Nat obtains the quantum-chip prototype but his plan of escape is interrupted by a former FSB agent, Yelena. A fluke event puts the pair working together, although for different purposes. Nat wants to stop a master plot for control while Yelena is set on saving her sisters who have been kidnapped. It looks like cooperation might work best especially when they realize they need to obtain the help of a brilliant physicist who may be their only hope to stopping a tyrannical billionaire from completing a supercomputer that will control the world.

Nat is a little naïve but that is understandable due to his solitary upbringing. Being unforgettable has its advantages (storage closets come in handy) but there are more problems than you might think. His mother helped him to learn creative means to help others remember him when he needs them to.

The writing felt more like “light” entertainment than intense suspense. Still, the story moved along quickly, and I enjoyed the action and light romance. The suspense builds with a few twists and an ending that leaves open the possibility of more adventures. I recommend this to fans of futuristic, spy adventure.

Audio Notes: Bryson Carr does a good job with the narration. He provides the younger tone of the primary character but also provides appropriate accents and voices for the other characters. The energy and delivery enhance the reading experience for me.

Source: 8/30/2020 Chirp $2.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet Audio goals.

Audible Book Review: Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett

This is a solid, engaging spy thriller.

Eye of the Needle
By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: Eric Lincoln

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-13-08
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Historical Thriller, Spy Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Edgar Award Winner, Best Novel, 1979
One enemy spy knows the secret of the Allies' greatest deception, a brilliant aristocrat and ruthless assassin - code name: "The Needle" - who holds the key to the ultimate Nazi victory.
Only one person stands in his way: a lonely Englishwoman on an isolated island, who is coming to love the killer who has mysteriously entered her life.
This is Ken Follett's unsurpassed and unforgettable masterwork of suspense, intrigue, and dangerous machinations of the human heart.
©1978 Ken Follett (P)1985 Brilliance Audio

Review:
The Needle, aka Faber, is one of the handful of German spies who has yet to be nabbed in London. He has been living as one invisible workman after another. He is careful to choose his personas, his housing and his employment to minimize suspicion. But if his disguise is at risk, he has few scruples in eliminating those who might expose him.

Faber meets with another German spy whom he believes to have been compromised. The man gives an important message to Faber who sets off to investigate the situation. Faber discovers the biggest deception of the Allies’ war strategy. He gets pictures and now has to get the pictures and his information back safely to Hitler. He is on the run with a dogged inspector hot on his tail.

Faber’s efforts to reach a U-boat rendezvous bring him to isolated Storm Island. One end of the island is occupied by a crippled pilot (David), his sad, conflicted wife (Lucy) and their child. An elderly shepherd lives on the other end of the island and the sheep are in between. Faber is prepared to kill everyone on the island if he has to, but he might be surprised by the resistance he faces.

This spy thriller starts a little slowly but Follet spends that time developing the characters. Not only the Faber, Lucy and David but also several of the authorities involved in the hunt for “the Needle”. Faber is such a precise spy that he stays a step ahead of his trackers. There were some direct sex scenes which weren’t necessary for me even though the scenes added to the depth of the characters I found the deceptive war strategy very interesting and I felt that Follet captured the language and somber tone of the setting. I especially enjoyed the tension of this story as it built to the dangerous climax.

I haven’t read Follet’s longer works but I see he has more WWII spy stories I might like. This may be an older story, but it is still a worthy spy thriller and especially recommended those who like reading in the WWII genre.

Audio Notes: Eric Lincoln does a good job with the narration. His accent fits the story and he provides distinct voices for Faber, the various Englishmen and even for Lucy and her son. The narration added to my enjoyment of this story.

Source: 2011 Audible purchase. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goal.