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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Brilliant book ... could not put it down

I have to agree with previous comments... do not listen to Chapter 1.. a brilliant plot, wonderful characters and wonderfully narrated. Indeed, one of the best thrillers I have ever read. Was it ever made into a film ?

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Gripping from start !

Transported to Siberia by both Author and Narrator. And one of most tense endings . Superb 👍

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Brilliant

Exceptionally well-written, complex and compulsive. I could hardly bear not to be listening to it

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Kolymsky Heights

Great story well narrated. Second visit to this book and not disappointed. I highly recommend this book.

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Unusual, and enthralling.

Firstly, thanks to those warning of the spoiler in the intro.

Very unusual thriller, heavy on operational detail, made the mundane engrossing. An Inuit hero, which must be a first (or nearly) for mainstream western fiction.

I've docked a star for the daft and unnecessary sidetrack into the unrealistic shenanigans at the facility that provide background to the more believable main technological prize being chased. A minor thing in the long run though.

Incredible chase scene, and ingenious preparation throughout. Great narration as well, though it took me a while to acclimatise.

Brilliant book and listen.

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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...

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