The Spanish Game

Drawing upon his experiences working with the British Secret Service, Cumming returns with another spy thriller that is as thrilling as and more fully realized than previous works. Protagonist Alex Milius has learned a lot since his release from MI6 six years ago and is unable to stay away from the high-stakes game of international intrigue. The talented Simon Vance delivers a scintillating reading; his simple, underplayed English dialect captures the very essence of Milius. There are no frills or manufactured emotions; Vance is so good that he need only relate the prose with honesty and passion and listening becomes a compelling and memorable experience. A St. Martin’s hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 22). (Feb.)