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Old Boys Audiobook
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(3.08) - 222 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Master spy Paul Christopher is back … or is he?
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 Carr├®."
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.
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"Like Ross Thomas and Graham Greene (at least, Greene's espionage fiction), McCarry relies on wit and solid characterization to carry his story. In this case, the subplot involving Saul of Tarsus as Christ's "handler" is one of the funnier and more fascinating leitmotifs in spy fiction. "
— Steve (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Old Boys is like the best parts of ten John le Carré novels all put together.”
— Time -
“As soon as he began publishing fiction more than three decades ago, Charles McCarry was recognized as a spy novelist of uncommon gifts…McCarry is a careful plotter and an unfussy stylist; he nourishes his narrative with cosmopolitan reflections on the craft…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 is a careful plotter and an unfussy stylist; he nourishes his narrative with cosmopolitan reflections on the craft…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…McCarry’s commitment to [his] fanciful premise is absolute, and the resulting yarn combines the intrepid exploits of John Buchan, the cagey intrigue of Eric Ambler, and the clipped cadences of Dashiell Hammett. Tremendous fun.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A 2004 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Mystery/Thriller
Old Boys Listener Reviews
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" Perhaps the best espionage book I've ever read. By far the best Charles McCarry out there IMHO. However please note, if you are an easily offended Christian, you might want to pass on this one. "
— Josef, 9/9/2013 -
" One of my favorite McCarry books--I whipped right through it. "
— Monica, 12/26/2012 -
" After a long time away from writing about Paul Christopher, McCarry returns in masterful form. All the usual suspects are here, along with the typical byzantine plot and surprises. In reading this I felt like an old friend with whom I had lost touch had returned. "
— Christopher, 12/16/2012 -
" This was, surprisingly, excellent. I initially though "Oh, not another spy story!", but it's so well written, with a very dry wit. Definitely worth a read. "
— Steve, 11/8/2012 -
" I like this book in the same way I liked Carmen Sandiego, the computer game. It introduces me to exotic locales. Otherwise, it's of little worth. "
— Julie, 10/31/2012 -
" The main downside to the end of the cold war was the demise of the intellectual spy novel. This one solves that problem. "
— Marilyn, 4/2/2012 -
" This is a new author for me deemed to be the best espionage writer today. You can tell he definitely use to be a spy for the CIA. It was a good mystery! "
— Cindy, 2/23/2012 -
" The best spy writer ever.... "
— Noel, 2/3/2012 -
" Old Boys by Charles McCarry (2005) "
— Kevin, 12/14/2011 -
" Like Ross Thomas and Graham Greene (at least, Greene's espionage fiction), McCarry relies on wit and solid characterization to carry his story. In this case, the subplot involving Saul of Tarsus as Christ's "handler" is one of the funnier and more fascinating leitmotifs in spy fiction. "
— Steve, 4/10/2011 -
" This was an excellent book by Charles McCarry. Very readable and interesting. <br/> <br/>J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" "
— J., 8/31/2010 -
" Old Boys by Charles McCarry (2005) "
— Kevin, 7/28/2010 -
" One of my favorite McCarry books--I whipped right through it. "
— Monica, 6/1/2009 -
" Perhaps the best espionage book I've ever read. By far the best Charles McCarry out there IMHO. However please note, if you are an easily offended Christian, you might want to pass on this one. "
— Josef, 1/23/2009 -
" A really entertaining, intelligent spy novel. John LeCarre meets Ross Thomas. Exotic settings, danger galore, quirky characters, black humor. <br/>Pure fun, basically. "
— Tom, 8/31/2008 -
" This is a new author for me deemed to be the best espionage writer today. You can tell he definitely use to be a spy for the CIA. It was a good mystery! "
— Cindy, 6/14/2007
About Charles McCarry
Charles McCarry is the author of ten 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 ten years he served under deep cover as a CIA operations officer.
About Stefan Rudnicki
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.