Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Silent Sisters by Robert Dugoni Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Series: Charles Jenkins #3
Published by Brilliance Audio, Thomas & Mercer on February 22, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 10 hours
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
After a harrowing escape from Russian agents on his last mission, Charles Jenkins thinks he’s finally done with the spy game. But then the final two of the seven sisters—American assets who have been deep undercover in Russia for decades—cut off all communication with their handlers. Are they in hiding after detecting surveillance? Or have they turned and become double agents? It’s Jenkins’s duty to find out, but he’s been added to a Russian kill list. It will require all of Jenkins’s knowledge of spycraft—and an array of disguises—to return to the country undetected.
But plans go awry his first night in Moscow when Jenkins gets involved in an altercation that ends in the death of the son of one of Russia’s most powerful organized crime leaders. Pursued by mafia henchmen, Russian agents, and a particularly dogged Moscow police detective, Jenkins is determined to track down the final two sisters and get them to America—or die trying. As various forces close in, Jenkins fears this time he might’ve pushed his luck too far.
I am really enjoying the Charles Jenkins series, which begins with The Eighth Sister, which was a heart-stopping fire hose of action and life-or-death danger. Charles Jenkins is unusual in that he is older, in his 60s, and left the CIA 40 years ago. He has a young son and a newborn daughter. I think you should read it is order due to the character and plot development as it progresses. Definitely some of the same people and goals are still in play in The Last Agent.
In spite of his complete distrust for the CIA, Jenkins still loves his country. He also has his own sense of honor and compassion which clearly have him going into a new life-threatening situation. In fact, his sense of honor make things extremely difficult on this mission. He’s already on a kill list for the Kremlin and now pretty much everyone is after him.
The action and danger were non-stop. There are several after him, and the silent sister he is here to save. Some of the players are familiar from earlier books and others are not. I was on edge throughout. This author really knows how to write layered, compelling stories. I have loved every one.
Narration:
The narrator is the voice of the series for me. I am completely comfortable with his voices and enjoy his performance. He handles the different voices and accents comfortably, including the inflections for foreign countries. I don’t know if they are accurate but they sound authentic. I am thrilled the audiobook version is also available through Kindle Unlimited. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Edoardo Ballerini
Edoardo Ballerini is an Award-winning narrator of Audiobooks and has appeared in over 40 films and television series, including recurring roles in “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Sopranos” and “24,” as well as a starring turn in the indie hit “Dinner Rush.”
In June 2019, Edoardo was inducted as a Golden Voice, AudioFile’s lifetime achievement honor for audiobook narrators.
About Robert Dugoni
Robert Dugoni is the New York Times, #1 Amazon, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite series: My Sister’s Grave, Her Last Breath, In the Clearing, The Trapped Girl and Close to Home, as well as the short prequels The Academy and Third Watch. The police procedural featuring Seattle Homicide Detective Tracy Crosswhite has kept Dugoni in the Amazon top 10 for more than three years and sold more than 4 million copies. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, released April 2018. Dugoni’s first series featured attorney David Sloane and CIA agent Charles Jenkins.
He is the winner of the Nancy Pearl Award for fiction, a two-time nominee for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction, A two-time nominee for the Mystery Writer’s of America Edgar Award and a two-time nominee for the International Thriller of the year. His non-fiction expose, The Cyanide Canary, was a 2004 Best Book of the Year. He is published in more than 30 countries and two dozen languages.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I love his series about Tracy Crosswhite but was hesitant about starting this one because it is so different than the first. It seems like you’ve read al the installments and enjoyed them. Maybe I should give it a try.
This is definitely more action / spy/ thriller where Tracy is a police procedural. But I love both. I started with Tracy, but LOVE everything I have read from this author.
I’ve heard really good things about this series. It’s one I’d like to try. 🙂
I’m really enjoying it. It’s heart-stopping action.
Charles Jenkins sounds like a very complex character with an interesting past. I’m so glad you’re enjoying this series.
Thank you Wendy. It’s exciting and well developed.
I love these types of stories. Adding to my wish list. Great review.
Thanks Nadene. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read from Robert Dugoni.
I’ve seen the authors books around, but didn’t realize they were spy thrillers. I like the sound of main character, Charles.
He’s awesome. I also love the Tracy Crosswhite series.
This sounds like a series that I would enjoy. It is interesting that the character is in his 60s and has two young children.
His wife is 24 years younger and they know each other from the CIA. The kids are 11 and 3 after this book I think.
Interesting. This isn’t my normal genre but I’m very interested in this author.
I’ve loved everything by this author. It’s very KGB are the bad guys and US is just saving people caught in the system, but it’s good fiction. It shows Russian people who are good people, it’s the government which is corrupt.
I plan to read #2 and this one next month. Love this series. Great review, Anne💜
There’s just something about this series. It has the leftover view of the Cold War and those tactics blended into the new world with oligarchs and previous KGB, but also the difficulties for the Russian people. I know it’s fiction but those perspectives were interesting.