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  • The Eighth Sister

  • A Thriller (Charles Jenkins, Book 1)
  • By: Robert Dugoni
  • Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
  • Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (104 ratings)

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The Eighth Sister cover art

The Eighth Sister

By: Robert Dugoni
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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Summary

An Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestseller. 

A pulse-pounding thriller of espionage, spy games, and treachery by the New York Times bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series.

Former CIA case officer Charles Jenkins is a man at a crossroads: in his early sixties, he has a family, a new baby on the way, and a security consulting business on the brink of bankruptcy. Then his former bureau chief shows up at his house with a risky new assignment: travel undercover to Moscow and locate a Russian agent believed to be killing members of a clandestine US spy cell known as the seven sisters.

Desperate for money, Jenkins agrees to the mission and heads to the Russian capital. But when he finds the mastermind agent behind the assassinations - the so-called eighth sister - she is not who or what he was led to believe. Then again, neither is anyone else in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

Pursued by a dogged Russian intelligence officer, Jenkins executes a daring escape across the Black Sea, only to find himself abandoned by the agency he serves. With his family and freedom at risk, Jenkins is in the fight of his life - against his own country.

©2019 La Mesa Fiction, LLC. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Eighth Sister

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good tale, a few too many twists and turns

Very good story, but just a little too drawn out, and with many twists and turns, I enjoyed it overall, but found that I wasn't keen to pick it up again after a break. This is why I dropped a star.

Robert Dugoni does write well, and his characters certainly make impact, either very likeable or irritatingly awful and snidey!

I will read again.

3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Entertaining but not original

A thriller that has all the mechanics but is not deep, some things are quite obvious and do not surprise, the characters are stereotypical and the outcomes predictable.

2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Definitely worth a listen...

It’s spy thriller and legal drama all rolled into one... well read and well written - definitely worth a listen!!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The eighth sister

One of the best books I have read and listen to for a long time

2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A cracking good read

I read a lot. This story had me on the edge of my seat, quite literally, as I had jobs to do but didn’t want to put the story down. An excellent story, well read with good characterisation. I love the Russian accents and the gentle feminine tone for Alex. Very good. I’m almost disappointed that I have already read the sequel!

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Excellent

A Spy, escape and court room drama in the one book, It’s been a long time since I’ve been this enthralled.

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A real gem. Loved it!

I bought this book having had it on my wish list for a while, but always having picked others. I really wish I’d bought it sooner. Great story, wonderful narration and I’ve immediately bought the other two in the series. HIGHLY recommended

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Excellent and relevant.

Excellent reader. A book you do not want to stop after starting.

The story is relevant and helpful in understanding the present Ukraine conflict.

Highly recommended.

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A good read

Two books in one. Enjoyed this more as the story unfolded. Perhaps a tad silly towards the end but the reading and story allow you to forgive this as the story builds towards the inevitable conclusion. A couple of nice character interactions that transcend the basic premise and definitely add value. I normally listen in the car but had to listen on in my house instead of working:)

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A good read !!!

somewhat unbelievable lucky story.. but amazingly written and kept me hooked till the end.. David Baldacci started then John Grisham finished it..

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  • shelley
  • 10-04-19

Excellent Genre cross of espionage&legal thriller!

WOW!!!! This book is amazing! I was so completely captivated my house could have fallen down around me and I'm not sure I would have noticed.
What begins as a great espionage story turns in an equally super legal thriller.
The publisher's summary gives a very good overview but I don't think it could possibly communicate the thrill of this story or original plot line.
Charlie Jenkins retired from the CIA forty years ago. When his old boss approaches him about going to Moscow to save the lives of CIA informants, although leery he agrees due to the much needed money he is being offered. He's in his early 60s with a much younger pregnant wife and a very young son. On the verge of bankruptcy, off to Russia he goes.
Once in Russia things don't quite add up and he has to make a mad undercover dash to get out before he's killed. He's tracked almost step by step by an FSB agent hot on his trail. Help comes from the most unexpected people but it comes and Charles does escape and return home.

Once he returns home he's arrested and charged with treason. In steps David Sloane (another of Dugoni's series) with some legal wizardry.

Edoardo Ballerini as always gives an outstanding performance.
If you have kindle unlimited this book is FREE to borrow with the kindle edition.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
If you found this review helpful please indicate so.
Thank You.

189 people found this helpful

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  • Lia
  • 21-04-19

Fast Paced Full Of Action

I have devoured everything Robert Dugoni has written ever since I bought Wrongful Death. When I heard he was returning to the world of David Sloane with a spy book focused on his friend Charlie Jenkins, I could not wait to get a copy. I figured the author's skill at writing thrillers would serve him well. I was not disappointed.

Charlie is approached by his former CIA station chief and reluctantly recruited into what is supposed to be a few quick trips to Russia to gain some valuable intel. It will also provide some needed cash to keep his business afloat. His first trip is suspenseful, but successful. On the second trip, things go horribly wrong and we're off to the races.

As usual, the author's writing is clear and vivid. The characters, locations and action come alive, even when they fall into some obvious spy novel stereotypes. The listener is kept on the edge of their seat, waiting to find out what happens next. Then, about two-thirds of the way through, the story takes a bit of a left turn, changing from a spy novel to a legal drama. By this time, the story has the listener hooked and anxious to finish.

I did not see the end coming. But I did picked up on most of the clues to the underlying mystery as they were dropped along the way. This didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. The story and performance were amazing

Edoardo Ballerini was outstanding with the delivery of the story

89 people found this helpful

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  • Creek girl
  • 29-05-19

Eighth Sister

The book got me hooked quickly. Fast paced, interesting. But, the story gets bogged down for 3 hours towards the end. The details of the court proceedings, allowed documents, motions in court, etc, made me almost return the book. I can not recommend this book.

70 people found this helpful

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  • Kendrick
  • 26-06-19

Great then falls apart (for me)

The first part of this is a very exciting thriller with the primary character trying to perform a presumed CIA sanctioned mission in a Russia now run by the FSB instead of the old KGB. Then the story moves back to the US and becomes similar to one of the Lincoln Lawyer stories. If you enjoy the manipulations of lawyers and trials, you'll like this whole story. I find legal stories boring. But I'm no doubt in the minority based on how many legal thrillers have been published. Just be forewarned.

59 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • T.J.
  • 10-04-19

Deeply satisfying and thoughtful spy thriller

I’m not generally a fan of spy thrillers, but I’ve become a fan of Robert Dugoni through his other works. So I decided to give this a try anyway. And I am so glad I did.

I was skeptical as I started listening. The set up seemed improbable, and certain elements seemed to telegraph a predictable spy thriller plot. Boy, was I wrong. Very quickly, things went in an entirely novel direction. And while being careful not to spoil anything, I’m pretty sure this is the most satisfying spy novel I’ve ever read. The characters are well developed, the setting is ultimately realistic, and the penultimate ending has a great deal to say about our society and government: certainly not something I expected in a spy thriller.

Robert Dugoni also writes a black protagonist as believably and compelling as he wrote a woman in his latter Tracy Crosswhite books and as he wrote a young man with physical differences in his truly outstanding The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (which you should also read immediately if you have not). I haven’t read his earlier David Sloane books, but after reading this one, I plan to do so soon.

Robert Dugoni’s writing seems to be improving with every new book he writes. I can’t wait to see what he offers up next.

56 people found this helpful

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  • MK
  • 09-05-19

Slow and Boring

The gushing reviews don’t comport with what I heard. I only made it to chapter 8. It was so very slow and uninteresting. The main character annoyed me for being willing to put himself in an extremely stupid position so easily. The inability of he and his wife to manage a household with a single friggin child is annoying, too. How are you going to be stressed out to the point of needing medical intervention over one elementary aged child and his after-school activities?

The narrator was breathy, and his sing-song narration was instantly grating. His Russian was spot-on, though. Otherwise, he sounded like a poor man’s Scott Brick.

I returned this book.

44 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Wayne
  • 12-04-19

Robert Dugoni never disappoints!

Like with The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, The 7th Canon, and The Cyanide Canary Robert Dugoni again takes and excursion from his David Sloane legal thrillers and his Tracy Crosswhite modern detective novels. With THE EIGHTH SISTER he delves into an espionage thriller. If Dugoni writes it I will listen to it. Edoardo Ballerini does an excellent job of narration.

32 people found this helpful

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  • Elle
  • 18-04-19

Excellent!!!

I must admit the author wrote a black protagonist perfectly...thank you Dugoni!!! Not only was the story intriguing; the supporting characters tugged at my heart strings 😁 great book, can’t wait for the second!!!

25 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Alice Smith
  • 20-04-19

Excellent mystery thriller

I really enjoyed this book, also figure it's not too far off from reality. Also, so very much appreciate that author doesn't feel the need to fill this book with audible porn and bad language. The entire book was clean and a well woven mystery thriller. My only complaint about this book, is one that I've had with another book by this author where the story location was in WA State. For the audible edition, the narrator really should know the pronunciations of the locations mentioned. For example, Camano is pronounced C(au)m(long a)no. The first (a) is pronounced as an 'aw' sound, with the second (a) as in the word, 'ate'. Can't remember the name of the location that the narrator said incorrectly in the other book, but it was equally off. Something like this probably wouldn't matter or bother one that lives outside of Wa state, but to a Washingtonian it throws you off.

20 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • MB
  • 17-04-19

Wow, what a story!!

This was an excellent story, full of twists and turns. I basically dropped everything and listened to this over two days. It was very thrilling and interesting, full of great details.

The narration was EXCELLENT. Great differentiation between characters and amazing foreign language work. Highly recommend all around!

19 people found this helpful