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When Charlie Clark takes a break from his latest losing streak at the track to bring Drummond back to his Brooklyn home, they find it blown sky high—and then bullets start flying in every direction. At first, Charlie thinks his Russian “creditors” are employing aggressive collection tactics. But once Drummond effortlessly hot-wires a car as their escape vehicle, Charlie begins to suspect there’s much more to his father than meets the eye. He soon discovers that Drummond’s unremarkable career as an appliance salesman was actually a clever cover for an elaborate plan to sell would-be terrorists faulty nuclear detonators. Drummond’s intricate knowledge of the “device” is extremely dangerous information to have rattling around in an Alzheimer’s-addled brain. The CIA wants to “contain” him—and so do some other shady characters who send Charlie and Drummond on a wild chase that gives “father and son quality time” a whole new meaning.
With Once a Spy, Keith Thomson makes his debut on the thriller stage with energy, wit, and style to spare.
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
March 9, 2010 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780307705617
- File size: 337734 KB
- Duration: 11:43:36
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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January 11, 2010
Huffington Post
columnist Thomson’s wildly original debut, a darkly satirical thriller, features an unlikely, if endearing, father-son spy duo: retired appliance salesman Drummond Clark, who at age 64 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and Charlie Clark, a down-on-his-luck gambler who owes $23,000 to Russian loan sharks. Soon after Charlie rescues Drummond from the Brooklyn streets, where he’d been wandering, the older man’s house blows up and the two barely escape with their lives. Clark and son begin an adrenaline-fueled cross-country flight in which they must evade ruthless CIA assassins long enough to understand why they’re being targeted. During rare moments of lucidity, Drummond hotwires a car and effortlessly kills multiple assailants, suggesting to Charlie he was once much more than just a washing machine salesman. Poignant themes of love and redemption underpin an action-packed story line that includes exotic locales, high-tech gadgetry, and international intrigue. -
Charlie Clark is an unsuccessful gambler whose father has developed Alzheimer's disease. Danny Campbell narrates his story in the mature, raspy voice that one would expect of a man of Charlie's age and experience. As far as Charlie knows, his father, Drummond, was an ordinary appliance salesman. So Charlie is surprised to learn that Drummond was also a Cold War spy who is now being hunted by political friends and enemies. Drummond knows too much, and his mental state presents unique problems for the cloak-and-dagger community. A combination of realism, whimsy, and spy tradecraft makes this story is fun to listen to. Campbell's voice works well as Charlie finds himself unexpectedly regarding his father with awe. N.K.L. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
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