AVENGER

In 1982 Frederick Forsyth set a standard for the international thriller with his now classic The Day of the Jackal. His novels since have been complex and compelling, but not until Avenger has Forsyth crafted as chilling a tale. Eric Conger guides us through the convergent subplots around the death of a young American aid worker and the circuitous route of retribution set in motion by his tycoon grandfather. Conger's cool detachment helps the listener follow the many threads of the story while driving the suspense. His characters--from ex-Vietnam tunnel rat Cal Dexter to Serbian warlord Zoran Zilic--are clear; his accents are expert and his pacing as perfect as Forsyth's. The settings change from Serbia to a South American jungle, flashback to Vietnam, pass through CIA headquarters and bucolic New Jersey, and end on September 10, 2001. Forsyth's attention to detail and calculated coincidence are handled with finesse. Eric Conger's success with nonfiction narrative serves him well. He's able to move listeners through the historical detail on Vietnam and Serbia without ever letting the intrigue lag. His performance gives the difficult blend of involvement and objectivity that highlights the keen suspense. R.F.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]