DEATH OF A DISSIDENT The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB

The death of Alexander "Sasha" Litvinenko in London in November 2006 was a cause célèbre, but few people know of the political intrigue that went on behind the scenes. This was no random hit--this was an execution in the style of the Cold War-era KGB. This chronicle by friend Alex Goldfarb and Litvinenko's wife, Marina, reads like the best le Carré or Clancy, and Dennis Boutsikaris is a wise choice for narrator. His portrayal of various East European accents is flawless. Under the spell of Boutsikaris's hypnotic voice, we follow the Litvinenkos as they flee Russia for safety (they hoped) in England. Along the way, we learn of Sasha's KGB past, his discovery of major crime at the heart of the state, and his poisoning and painful death. B.D.J. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]