Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Retribution

Narrator Graham turns in a fine performance in this audio edition of Lustbader’s latest installment in the Jason Bourne series. Bourne is still mourning the death of Mossad agent Rebeka, one of the only people he ever cared about, when he takes on an assignment to investigate the connection between a Mexican drug cartel and Ouyang Jidan, a senior member of China’s Politburo, who also happens to have ordered Rebeka’s murder. Bourne sets out for revenge, but it is a long, deadly path toward retribution. With a sharp edge to his voice, Graham easily delivers the breathless action fans have come to expect from this series. The narrator just as easily handles the book’s large multinational cast of characters, presenting dialogue clearly and giving each character an appropriate voice and distinctive accent. However, the voice Graham lends Bourne sometimes sounds more like a petulant young man than seasoned superspy. Still, the locations are exotic, the narrow escapes exciting, and the winding plot twists compelling—and fans will certainly enjoy the ride. A Grand Central hardcover. (Dec.)