The Poet's Game
The first book in the Alex Matthews series
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The Poet's Game
Narrated by:
Andy Ingalls
Buy Now for $25.96
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Narrated by:
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Andy Ingalls
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By:
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Paul Vidich
Summary
Alex is a different man from when he had run Moscow station, where he recruited a network of 'poet spies' including the one he names BYRON. He has pieced his life back together after a tragic boating accident killed his wife and daughter but the scars remain. But Alex remains, in his mind, a patriot, and so he begrudgingly accepts the Director's request.
Something, though, is off about the whole operation from the start. The Russians seem one step ahead and the CIA suspects there is a traitor in the agency. Alex realizes that by getting back into the game he has risked everything he has worked for: his new marriage, his family’s safety, his firm. As the noose tightens around Alex, and the FSB closes in, the operation becomes a hall of mirrors with no exits. To find redemption, Alex must uncover the secrets behind BYRON or lose everything.
The Poet's Game is a remarkably sophisticated, timely, and emotionally resonant portrait of a spy from a master of the genre.©2025 Paul Vidich (P)2025 W F Howes Ltd
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Whiny voice narrator
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The whole Russia-gate angle is the backbone of the plot, and that narrative has since been shown to be wrong, which just made the story feel dated and off the mark. When a novel leans this hard into a political take, it’s bound to turn off a huge chunk of readers.
I read fiction to escape, not to be preached at. This one missed the point for me. I couldn’t finish it and honestly felt like I wasted my money on it.
Trump Derangement Syndrome!!!!!
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I saw the author referred to on a site specializing in espionage books as a "great new talent".
Which probably tells me more about that site, and reaffirms that you cannot trust anyone online these days.
I don't stop reading books (especially when bought) after 1.5 chapters, but I just could not stomach any more.
The opening chapter was ok, as action goes. Though a stretch at the mistakes and behavior of someone supposedly "ex-CIA head of Moscow station". But I'm tolerant.
However, when the second chapter went into a protracted romantic scene, as man-splained and silly as you will find, I called it quits (even as the hero was tenderly moving his hand "between her legs"). For heavens sakes!
I feel insulted that Vidich has been even mentioned in the same page as Le Carre and Herron.
His writing has neither the elegance of the former, or the intelligence of the latter.
So I'm out of here, and another Audible credit bites the dust. (Hmm... finding too many of these...)
I do rate the narrator quite well though. Competent enough and listenable. He should jump ship.
I should have counted the ratings...
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