THE RUSSIA HOUSE

Spying, we hear from the master of the genre, is about waiting. The game plays out well when Barley, a British book publisher, finds himself embroiled in espionage in the Soviet Union. A dissident's hopes of Barley publishing his book--with embedded state secrets-- are caught amid the tangled web woven by the publisher, British intelligence, and watchful Soviet eyes. Michael Jayston must provide more than a proper British voice in his narration. With a couple of Soviets, a few Americans, and a cadre of British agents, he has multiple challenges. He meets all of them deftly, adapting well as Barley learns the spy game. Jayston's delivery enhances le Carré's suspenseful writing. M.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2013]