The Amateur

By: Robert Littell

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Now a major motion picture starring Academy-Award winner Rami Malek and Emmy winners Jon Bernthal, Rachel Brosnahan, and Laurence Fishburne!

Charlie Heller is an ace cryptographer for the "Company." He's a quiet man with a quiet job in a back office. But when terrorists kill his fiancé in cold blood and the Agency decides not to pursue those responsible, Charlie's life takes an abrupt turn. He was not a blackmailer, but he will force the CIA's hand. He was not an assassin, but he will penetrate the Iron Curtain with the intent to kill. Driven by an obsessive need for revenge and targeted for elimination by the CIA itself, Heller is an amateur with a one-in-a-million chance of success.

©2003 Robert Littell (P)2003 Phoenix Books

Critic reviews

"Superb...real terror...a hall-of-mirrors showdown...plus last-minute twists...Littell is in top form." (Kirkus)

"A taut, chilling plot and a protagonist as memorable as one of Len Deighton's, or le Carre's George Smiley." (The New York Times Book Review)

Intriguing paths.

This is an interesting view of intrigue, loss, cynicism, romance, and finding the way back from the dead -to a new life.
My recomendations.

Just ok

Not sure what to make of this book. It definitely dated since it takes place in the Nixon era. And not sure what to make of some of the repetitive details. Author describes several characters with “Mona Lisa-like smile”. Obsessed with it! Why do that? By the 10th time I was rolling my eyes. But it kept me entertained as I wanted to see how much more I can take.

Obsessed detail

I finished listening to this book, but at times it was seriously aggravating to listen to the authors absolute obsession with overused detail(My opinion). Other than that the subject and content was good. I would be hesitant to listen to another book from this author if he has the same style on the rest of his books.

Great book!

This was a great book! My mind was constantly racing trying to figure out each twist. In the end the book came together wonderfully.

Scott Brick's narration is the best I've heard.

A must read!

A Little Better than Just OK

I'm thinking closer to 3 1/2 stars. I almost quit listening about 1/2 way thru because it was getting pretty boring, but then things started to pick up a bit. I doubt I'd listen to this book again, and while I don't feel like I wasted a credit, I didn't get as much book as I had hoped for.