BODY OF LIES

When Dick Hill narrates a book that is elegantly crafted, with a challenging plot and fascinating characters, listeners are in for a treat. The politics of the Middle East after 9/11 form the backdrop as CIA Agent Roger Ferris hunts for a wily Al Qaeda fanatic known as Suleiman. Ferris has a plan that will cause Suleiman's terrorist organization to self-destruct. David Ignatius, a columnist for The Washington Post, draws contemporary scenarios that might happen tomorrow, as well as utterly believable, complex villains and heroes. While Ignatius's women characters don't ring true, offering little more than arm candy for the men, Hill's performances, from that of Near East CIA Chief Ed Hoffman to Jordanian spy Hani Salaam, add dimension, subtlety, shading, and a master narrator's finesse to the work as a whole. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]