THE ACCIDENTAL JOE The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef

Tom Straw, the original author of the Richard Castle books, brings his signature fast-paced plot, snappy dialogue, and gutsy characters to this mystery. Celebrity Chef Sebastian Pike is coerced into letting the CIA use his food show as cover to extradite a high-ranking mole from Russia. CIA Agent Cammie Nova, acting as show producer, provides the spy connection and the love interest. Lots of twists and turns. Straw narrates with solid pacing, intensifying the tension in the deadly encounters. However, his character differentiation is lacking, and the rapid-fire dialogue, often without identifying tags, may confuse listeners. As this entertaining thriller spans France and introduces a diverse cast, it could benefit from a narrator skilled in accents. E.Q. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]