TRAITOR'S KISS

The Cold War may be over, but allies still spy on each other. When a Russian naval officer, who has been passing valuable information to Britain's MI6, comes under suspicion, the decision is made to get him out. Never mind that he's in a fortified Russian naval base in isolated Kaliningrad or that the old-school operative brought in for the operation has little time to prepare. This nail-biting plot shows why international bestseller Gerald Seymour is known as a master of suspense. This is an all right, but not great, example of narrator Christopher Kay's talents. He offers some interesting ethnic and class characterizations, particularly of the minor actors, and the conversations are believably done. But Kay's narrative pacing is too deliberate, and he adds frustrating mid-sentence pauses, making a long book longer. Still worth a listen, just not applause. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 04]