Old Boys

By: Charles McCarry

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Charles McCarry is considered by many to be the master of world-class spy fiction, garnering praise from peers and critics alike for his riveting novels. Christopher Buckley wrote that McCarry “is not only one of the best writers in America but one of the most important. He dazzles, from epigraph to epilogue,” and the Los Angeles Times hailed his work as “first rate, in the tradition of the best espionage fiction, John Buchan to Eric Ambler and John le Carré.”

In this magnificent novel, Charles McCarry returns to the world of his legendary character Paul Christopher—the savvy intelligence agent as skilled at choosing a fine wine as he is at tradecraft, at once sophisticated and dangerous, and no stranger to the world of dirty tricks.

Now Paul Christopher has mysteriously disappeared. Months pass and a memorial service is held for him in Washington. But a group of his retired colleagues - the “Old Boys” from the Outfit - refuse to believe Christopher is dead. Led by Christopher’s cousin Horace, the Old Boys embark on a thrilling worldwide search for the master spy and an ancient scroll that may reveal an unspeakably dangerous truth.

Charles McCarry is the author of 10 critically acclaimed novels and nine nonfiction books. He is a former editor at large of National Geographic and has contributed dozens of articles, short stories, and poems to leading national magazines. His op-ed pieces and other essays have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. For 10 years he served under deep cover as a CIA operations officer.

©2004 Charles McCarry (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ Old Boys is like the best parts of ten John le Carré novels all put together.” ( Time)

“ Old Boys is, at heart, a lament for a dying generation of American spies, an elegy for the human twilight, Cocoon with a cloak and dagger.” ( Washington Post)

“McCarry's latest is an old-fashioned, rollicking adventure that beats Ludlum and Cussler at their own game…Tremendous fun.” ( Booklist)

One more chance to live a life of adventure

I really like the narrator on this book he does a great job. The story was interesting, although some of the parts for a little bit hard to swallow, but I like the book.

The final chapter in the Paul Christopher saga is a good one.

Don’t start with this one, but if you’ve read any of the others this is where they all lead.

The stirring conclusion to the life of McCarry’s super spy.

great story

easy to listen to and a great voice actor!
I could not put it down

Less plausible Charles McCarry still worth it.

McCarry writes with such an authentic voice he can be forgiven for a less plausible storyline. Not in the same class as Tears of Autumn or the Meernik Dossier, but enjoyable nonetheless. Stefan Rudnicki excellent as usual.

The details of the background information woven into the plot.

Excellent read, but with lengthly side stories that seemed to go on much too long. The author is obviously a scholar on the Middle East and Arab cultures.