The Factory cover art

The Factory

And Other Stories

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The Factory

By: Brian Freemantle
Narrated by: Robin Sachs
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About this listen

A dozen stories of espionage in Berlin, from one of the genre’s masters

In 1990—after the Iron Curtain has lifted but before East and West Germany become one—an uneasy truce exists between the spy agencies of Berlin’s two halves. As the governments of the divided state negotiate reunification, espionage continues quietly. That calm is about to explode. An English agent, on a routine collection of microfilm on the other side of Checkpoint Charlie, is arrested for spying, and all hell threatens to break loose. He is the fourth officer in six months to fall, and the arrest confirms everyone’s fear: There is a mole in English intelligence.

Responsibility falls on Samuel Bell, the head of the Berlin espionage department, nicknamed “the Factory.” But Bell’s search for the mole—an unwanted strain on his alcohol-frayed nerves—is only one of this collection’s dozen stories of life in the Factory, where deception is rampant and death is never far behind.

©1990 Brian Freemantle (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Espionage Mystery Short Stories Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Fiction Funny Russia

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All stars
Most relevant
My first but not last Brian Freemantle novel. It took myself until chapter 9 to get a idea where this book was leading. I was correct too. I wonder how long it will take you! Great book, story's weaving back and forth to a surprising ending. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Superb!

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The book started with a twist that became clear as you read more. However the flow of the story is hard to follow and in reality the internal checks and loss of life would have been picked up on.
I persevered and finished up but overall it was a disappointing read and lacking factual detail on procedures within intelligence

The Factory comments

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Unlike some stories in this genre, the chapters are complete in themselves yet link up throughout to form the all important ‘bigger picture’.

There is an authentic lack of glamour about the characters. Likewise the pace of the narrative is measured though probably gets a bit too exciting than in real life.

Perhaps the primary success lies in how the story draws the listener/reader into how the characters feel and think.

The narrator manages the change in accents and genders well enough so they are easy to listen to and appreciate the change in who’s speaking, but they are possibly a bit too caricatured. All the Russians sounding gruff and the women softly spoken avoids us from being sucked in too deeply. Good or bad? I don’t know. However, possibly I’m pleased that I managed to keep my distance from the unsavoury and brutal goings on.

Thoroughly engaging and thought provoking

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I was looking to try the espionage genre, so I went with one of the best authors of the theme, but it didn't really work for me. I was expecting short stories, but ended up with disconnected novel, which was a little disappointing. The story itself probably deserves more than 2 starts, but I just didn't have that much fun with it.

OK

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Found this book easy to listen to and an engaging story. Excellent narration, well written. Would recommend this book

Great spy thriller

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