Doesn't 'Quite' meet heights of his previous books

Don't get me wrong, this is still a very good book, and the narrator does an excellent job. I think the problem is that Ben Macintyre has written a book that has cast too wide a net to be fully conveyed as an audio book. There's so many parallel threads going on that I sometimes found myself trying to remember exactly which Agent was which. In a physical book, that's not a problem, as you can always flick back to double-check things for clarity. That's not an option in an audio book....

His previous two books had the benefit of either one central agent or one core operation to focus on. Here, there's a lot of different threads and different plots to try to keep track of.

Bottom line it's still a good listen, but I suggest starting with either Agent ZigZag or Operation Mincemeat first, to "ease" yourself in!

6 people found this helpful

Good book, narration is little off for me.

What made the experience of listening to Double Cross the most enjoyable?

The story itself.

What did you like best about this story?

I love Ben Macintyre as an author. I love the themes of his books. This one was a little less organised than Zigzag and Mincemeat but still such a fascinating story and still well written even if it didn't match the standards Ben had set in previous books. Also, the fact that this book is about a group of characters who don't actually ever meet does make it tougher.

What three words best describe Michael Tudor Barnes’s voice?

His voice, is a little aged. He also puts on an the same 'stiff upper lip' voice for every British character, and uses the same accent for every non-British character. His pace was good though, but I'd have to say I preferred the guy who did Operation Mincemeat (better book too).

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

No.

4 people found this helpful

A Thoroughly Amazing Read

Well, yet another tremendous book by Michael Macintyre.

It is so comprehensive and in depth; but unfortunately I found this to be a negative aspect.
Whilst it may be easier to grasp the many, many characters mentioned in the book, with their twists and turns by reading the book at ones own pace, listening to it doesn't give you that luxury.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't let this put you off getting it.
Again, the pace and writing style of Macintyre is electrifying.

The narrator is clear, concise, and I enjoyed the way he accentuated the different characters.

Well done to all.

2 people found this helpful

Macintyre amazing again

Would you consider the audio edition of Double Cross to be better than the print version?

Couldn't say

What did you like best about this story?

Everything about it, the deception, the humour, the genius and overall importance of the task.

Have you listened to any of Michael Tudor Barnes’s other performances? How does this one compare?

First time. He was brilliant.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed quite a few times & there were a few emotional parts towards the end but no tears.

Any additional comments?

This is the fourth Ben Macintyre audiobook that I've listened to and every single one of them has been absolutely brilliant. I don't think I could choose a favourite.

2 people found this helpful

An absolutely amazing true story, brilliantly told.

Writing and narration are beyond excellent. I highly recommend this compelling and true tale of these war time unknown heroes. Magnificent!

2 people found this helpful

great

great book. a little confusing with all the individual story's but other wise great. a good listener

2 people found this helpful

Classic and gripping!

Well-read and erudite, this book shows how the combination of brains, cunning and brute force can win the day. Amazing collection of characters, flawed and fabulous. Keeps the listener's attention all the way through! Excellent.

2 people found this helpful

Brilliant Tale Well Told

Ben Macintyre has a very engaging way of telling a story. Although the book represents the history of the D-Day Spies, the story is written as if it was a rather good John le Carre novel, and is the better for that.

Michael Tudor Barnes has exactly the right voice for narrating a wartime drama. It's as if you're listening to the news being broadcast direct from London in 1941.

The actual story is fascinating, and just goes to show that the truth can be stranger than fiction.

The list of names at the beginning didn't work well in audiobook format, and the write-off at the end of what-happened-to-whom was a bit long. But these are just minor criticisms of a 10/10 audiobook.

2 people found this helpful

Most recommended - life better than fiction

As many times, life turns out to be more interesting than most fiction. This is a true story, based on hard facts from personal stories of people involved, but mostly based on MI5 dossiers. One of the better WW2 stories and one of the best audio books I listened to in last couple of years.

2 people found this helpful

Great but too many doubles?.....

I really enjoyed McIntyre's first two books and although the information in them had appeared elsewhere he delivers the details in such a detailed and personable way that the book reads like a weird blend of a thriller combined with a news bulletin.

In the latest book he sketches the most complex and daring orchestration of wartime deception - all based on fact, newly released by MI5. Although the plot is rich and unbelievably complex, and although the daring of the spies is far greater than before, the book never reaches the intensity of its two predecessors. This could be that there is less focus on one small cast of characters and the canvas is bigger, more complex with less opportunity to understand the lives and motives of the main characters. At times the cast of characters is unwieldy because of the number of characters and the complexity of the charade they were developing.

As always one is looking forward to the epilogue to explain how the people ended up. The work they did was amazing and it affected the outcome of the war and therefore the course of world history. Ben M has written well, again, but with fewer main and subsidiary characters the book may have risen to the levels of its predecessors. Narration is brilliant with flawless accents applied consistently.

2 people found this helpful