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The Man with the Baltic Stare Audiobook
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(3.02) - 122 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From the author of the critically acclaimed Inspector O series comes another riveting novel set in the mysterious world of North Korea.
Autumn brings unwelcome news to Inspector O: he has been wrenched from retirement and ordered back to Pyongyang for a final assignment. The two Koreas, he learns, are now cooperating—very quietly—to maintain stability in the North. Stability requires that Inspector O lead an investigation into a crime of passion committed by the young man who has been selected as the best possible leader of a transition government. O is instructed to make sure that the case goes away. Remnants of the old regime, foreign powers, and rival gangs all want a piece of the action, and all make it clear that if O values his life, he will not get in their way. O isn’t sure where his loyalties lie, and he doesn’t have much time to figure out whether ’tis better to be noble or be dead.
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"I loved this novel -- an unexpected and unusual setting (North Korea, in the near future) and a wonderful protagonist (Inspector O); I didn't know what was going on and neither did he -- til the end -- I will re-read this book. But first I will read other books in the Inspector O series."
— Miriam (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Inspector O is called out of retirement to investigate a murder in Macao. Eventually it becomes clear that the job is not to solve the crime, but to obscure it. This is a police procedural North Korea style—fully inverted. It’s not what you do that lets you get by in North Korea, it’s what you don’t do.”
— Economist (London) -
“While publishers comb the fjords for the next Stieg Larsson, readers devoted to bleak international noir would do better to turn their attention from Northern Europe to Asia. North Korea, to be exact.”
— Slate.com -
“Church once again shows an extraordinary ability to bring that enigmatic country to life, a feat made even more impressive by the wholly plausible near-future setting. Satisfied readers will hail Church as the equal of le Carré.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“The story is entertaining, and Feodor Chin’s narration adds to the pleasure. At the outset, Chin captures Inspector O’s exasperation at being summoned to Pyongyang. Chin is just as adept at portraying the other emotional states that pervade the novel, including paranoia, confusion and tension.”
— AudioFile -
“Each Inspector O novel is a strange new trip through the looking glass, and this one is every bit as praiseworthy as its predecessors.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Awards
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A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010
The Man with the Baltic Stare Listener Reviews
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" Off beat series set in North Korea supposedly written by a former agent. Fascinating look into the culture. Start at the beginning of the series. "
— Margaret, 12/21/2013 -
" This was an outstanding read, as I would expect from Church. Definitely a great glimpse into North Korean politics and crime solving. Would love to see many more books about Inspector O. "
— Bert, 11/7/2013 -
" Church seems to have run outta steam on this one. Instead of seeming kafka-esque (as his reviewers like to say, and he even has Inspector O read Kafka in this one)...it just seems disjointed. "
— Frank, 4/30/2013 -
" These are getting too weird. "
— Mary, 4/26/2013 -
" If John Le Carre wrote about North Korea, these are the books he would write. "
— Brian, 1/18/2013 -
" Set in the near future; North Korea is moving to establish relationships with the South and as a result everyone is fighting over it. Seems timely. But even more Byzantine plot than usual in this series. "
— Liz, 10/22/2012 -
" Enjoyed this take and series which is set in North Korea and has a different and interesting slant on a place I know little about. "
— Gaile, 7/13/2012 -
" Enjoyed this take and series which is set in North Korea and has a different and interesting slant on a place I know little about. "
— Gaile, 4/17/2011 -
" Off beat series set in North Korea supposedly written by a former agent. Fascinating look into the culture. Start at the beginning of the series. "
— Margaret, 9/17/2010 -
" This was an outstanding read, as I would expect from Church. Definitely a great glimpse into North Korean politics and crime solving. Would love to see many more books about Inspector O. "
— Bert, 9/7/2010
About James Church
James Church is the pseudonym of a former Western intelligence officer with decades of experience in Asia. He has wandered through Korea for years. No matter what hat he wore, Church says, he ran across Inspector O many times.
About Feodor Chin
Feodor Chin, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is an actor classically trained at the American Conservatory Theater and UCLA. His acting career includes numerous credits in film, television, theater, and voice-over.