DEEP BLACK: PAYBACK

Charlie Dean and his National Security Agency team are in Peru to ensure fair elections, but things get complicated when a former Russian agent living there seeks revenge against the CIA. J. Charles reads at a brisk pace, making an admirable attempt to inject tension and excitement where the writing fails to do so. There are many voices, and for the most part the accents are good, making the frequent scene and character changes easy to follow. There's lots of joking by Dean's team, giving a lighthearted tone to the proceedings. But both the excessive humor and the absence of characters to care about add up to a mediocre listening experience. S.S.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]