good story well told

this is a a good story but perhaps not great... everything really interesting happens at the end. very well narrated though...

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

If you're unsure, give it a go!

As advised by other listeners skip the forward and listen at the end, I nearly made the mistake.
It is one of those books you will ponder long after it's over. Keep warm and enjoy!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Started at Chapter 2 and utterly gripped.

A superb thriller with a wonderful narration, utterly gripped.
Started at chapter 2 as advised by other readers and so glad I did - thanks to you all!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

The best listen ever ...

After finishing this book I did something I've never ever done before - I started to listen to it all over again immediately AND bought the paperback so that I could see the spelling of character and location names ...
One aspect of the plot was somewhat improbable (though maybe not, who knows) but otherwise the story was fascinating and gripping, and the way in which the main character arrived at and departed from his destination was ingenious and beautifully written ... I felt as if I was experiencing the journey with him, apart from the cold ...
I don't think I've been so absorbed in/by a story since childhood and I found that the reading (at 1.25 speed) had a sort of hypnotic affect on me, no doubt due to the clear and unobtrusive narration by Peter Noble ...

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

utterly believable

fantastically read.thoroughly described, gripping to the end. Sad and triumphant. could picture every part of the journey.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

gripping

A truly gripping story.
Beautifully read.
I could not put it down.I will look for others by this author

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great story, well read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would, but more to my male friends than female friends. This is a man's book. The story keeps you wanting to know what is going to happen next. The scene sometimes changes and tells of related things happening in another place, thus it is never a boring linear narrative. The final third of the book is told in lock-step, shifting from one place and then back to the other. It is a genuine thriller.

What other book might you compare Kolymsky Heights to, and why?

I suppose the book is a little like a John Le Carre novel but much more expansive. Or maybe Eric Ambler is a better comparison. I have read one other book by Lionel Davidson, The Rose of Tibet, and he is clearly fascinated by exotic places. I can imagine him poring over an Atlas, both when he was a child and when he was writing his novels. In fact the setting is a large part of this novel's appeal.

Which character – as performed by Peter Noble – was your favourite?

The male narrator had a pleasant voice and I thought he had a pretty convincing Russian accent. You always knew which character was speaking from his tone of voice and even the women's characters were well done. It's quite easy for male narrators to do annoying women's voices but Mr. Noble was at no point annoying. He also did the intensity thing well. Some narrators overdo it and you are exhausted by the constant intensity. Others don't sound intense enough. I thought Mr. Noble got it about right. I neither fell asleep nor felt frazzled.

My least favourite character as performed by Peter Noble was Johnny Porter, the protagonist. I now wish I had read the book before listening so that I could had formed my own idea of what Porter might sound like. As it is I now have the permanently sullen, dour sounding voice of Porter stuck in my head. This may indeed have been what the author intended. I just wasn't attracted to Porter at all and felt that a man with such a dead-pan voice was incapable of love, even sounded a bit dumb. Still, when I think about it I'm not sure that a smarter-sounding, more emotional Porter would have been true to character. That's the only misgiving I have about the narration.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Kolymsky Heights: the spy who went into the cold.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

An absolutely wonderful story

An amazing feat of detailed research informs a story of breathtaking originality. You live every minute with our hero willing him to succeed against impossible odds. I have never read anything quite like it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Great story, very well read. Start at chapter 2!

One of the best spy thrillers I have read. An exciting and unusual story which is enhanced by the performance of the reader. Just one warning though. As others have said, if you don’t want to ruin all the suspense you’d do better to start at chapter 2 which is the start of the book itself. Chapter 1 consists of Philip Pullman discussing the book which, in my opinion, gives away far too much of the story if you haven’t already read it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Great listen

Usually listen during the night but going to listen to it again when I am holiday. Unusual and gripping, Hope to see more of his book listed on audible

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful