AN OFFICER AND A SPY

David Rintoul’s smooth, warm voice and expert characterization keep the listener hooked throughout this involving and long novelistic examination of the Dreyfuss Affair. Based on a case that rocked France in the 1890s—the court-martial and solitary imprisonment of Captain Alfred Dreyfuss on false accusations of treason— the story is told from the point of view of Lieutenant Colonel Georges Picquard, who uncovered the conspiracy against Dreyfuss and led the charge to free him. Although the story is well known, Harris builds terrific suspense, and the colorfulness of his writing helps listeners visualize the past. It’s a complicated tale, which makes Rintoul’s skills invaluable—rhythm, pacing, and, above all, great voicing of individual characters keep everything clear and interesting to the end. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2014]