Kingdom of Shadows

By: Alan Furst

Narrated by: George Guidall

In spymaster Alan Furst's most electrifying thriller to date, Hungarian aristocrat Nicholas Morath—a hugely charismatic hero—becomes embroiled in a daring and perilous effort to halt the Nazi war machine in Eastern Europe.

Thinnest of Furst's plots; great narration

Furst is better read than heard, though Guidall's narration lends period atmosphere. The plot is thin by the standards of other "Night Soldier" offerings, a tangle of loose threads and nuanced clues drawn together in a whimper of a climax. I found it difficult to follow - though I imagine it would be easier to spot the connections in text - and stayed with it only for the artful description and cleverly drawn characters. Was hoping for a bigger finish, but alas... I'll be reading Furst from now on.

Typical Furst — no plot, but oodles of atmosphere

This is the sixth Furst novel I’ve read. Obviously I’m something of a fan, and I’ve grown used to the fact that Furst’s books, while long on atmosphere, excellent writing, and colorfully cynical dialogue, tend to have little in the way of plot. And this one has even less; it’s really just a loose collection of scenes — on the surface, at least, unrelated — chronicling the protagonist's travels to assorted pre-war European locations on various murky clandestine missions, not all of them successful. The fact that we’re talking about 1938 and ’39, the years of the Anschluss, Munich, the fall of Czechoslovakia, and the start of war gives all the proceedings an intrinsic suspense and sense of approaching doom.

All of Furst’s books seem to have, along with the same strengths, the same faults (at least to my mind): too many descriptions of meals — mainly of interest to food snobs, no doubt — and too many intrusive, embarrassingly pulpy sex scenes. This time, typically, his protagonist is a brave, handsome, wealthy Paris-based Hungarian aristocrat, still fit in his forties, with a military background, a still-beautiful mother, and all sorts of handy international connections. Like other Furst fantasy figures, he’s a magnet for women and has a beautiful, glamorous, wealthy young mistress. (I find Furst’s sex scenes a bit creepy, especially having seen what he actually looks like.) Furst’s female characters are basically just compliant Bond women who hop readily into bed with the hero.

These early Furst books are narrated by the redoubtable George Guidall, and for better or worse, they all have the Guidall trademark style. He’s a terrific reader, always enjoyable, but all his foreign characters, from bartenders and taxi drivers to generals, tend to have the same accented voice: they all sound coarse, colorful, loud, and a bit low-class, like minor characters in a Hollywood film.

The War Continues

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book was well-written as all Furst's books are. I have read several.. But the one thing I do notice book to book is similarities between each plot, character, etc. Enter primary character. Somehow they float through the book being drawn into actions during a time of unrest and war. The risk their lives...but it is somehow or other not connected ...I continue to feel the character floats but does not choose these events. Book after book....then when the book is finished, I go on to another, Again, well-written and the character again floats from one thing to another, somehow feeling disconnected from a choice....then the book is over. I guess I feel a lack of connection with the primary characters in Furst's books because of this. Who exactly are they??????????? I don't think this is really clear.

Entertaining

A engrossing tale, one in which the listener is quickly caught up. I want to get a map of 1940’s Paris to aid in comprehending the movements of the characters. Engrossing and fascinating.

Historical facts

I read many reviews before I buy a book and even then get some rotten apples. But Mr Furst books are becoming a favorite & teaching me a lot about history. I fact checked this one all along & was amazed to learn many new true events of this period. He must have someone that lived these stories & then he is able to relay them back to us in wonderful prose. I know such a person whose story was never told and I thank Mr Furst in their behalf