PALE BLUE by Mike Jenne

Narrated by Kevin Stillwell

Check Written—Check Cashed—Thriller Check!

Thriller Validation Inside—This would be a valid product label for Pale Blue.

In the second volume this series began to live up to its billing as a thriller in a big, big way. Now that the Cold War is heating up and the clandestine operations take center stage, this story reaches its full potential. Taken as a whole, the entire series is very similar to a Stephen King novel. First the writer gets us involved in the characters as real people, going about their extraordinary lives, then conflict is introduced to increase the excitement. Now, in the third volume, when the characters are in danger we, the listeners, feel the impact more viscerally because the characters have become our companions. But Jenne accomplishes something special here: He lives up to the hype. Have you ever heard the saying, “My mouth don’t write no checks my body can’t cash?” Well, the “Thriller” check written on the cover of book One is cashed here in book Three. Mike Jenne has accomplished that rare goal of creating likeable, and believable characters and puts them in an interesting, entirely believable story that I couldn’t wait to find out what happened—but also never wanted to end.

This book has a strong element of espionage, and it is told from both sides of the street. And the bad guys, comrades from the Soviet Union, are given adequate character development so that their drama is as real as our compatriots. As far as the spy game goes, all I will reveal is that Pale Blue contains The single most ingenious idea for a Dead Drop that I have ever encountered in any spy novel. It makes you think that it must be a recently declassified technique, because if it were not public knowledge it could still be a closely guarded national secret and would still be used in the field.

This third volume brings it all home; living up to its full potential. I am happy to report that, unlike some other trilogies I can think of; this Blue Gemini series has a conclusion worthy of the other two books. If you are considering this series let me assure you that it keeps getting better and better. Books like this are the reason I keep listening. I am thrilled to have discovered it! It was a great experience.

As of this writing (August 2017) this book has only received 33 ratings on the Audible (USA) site, and it has been released for over a full year! I for one am going to spread the word on this series–it deserves a much wider audience. I think it will be a great book to recommend to readers who find themselves too busy these days to sit down and read a book like they used to do when they were younger. Give them this series and watch them rediscover the joy of a great book all over again!

I hadn't experienced Kevin Stillwell as a narrator before this series. For me this tech thriller is the perfect vehicle to launch Stillwell into the public ear. Stillwell is at once completely unobtrusive and seamlessly inventive in his voice characterizations. Stillwell is a prime reason why this is a successful series. I am a sticker for proper pronunciation and I can say that Stillwell was, to my ear, perfect in that regard. His voice characterizations are all spot on. His pacing adds to the dramatic tension. Kevin Stillwell is wonderful. I will look for Mr. Stillwell in the future. The production of this Audible Studios audiobook is pristine.