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    The Empire of Night
    The Empire of Night
    The Empire of Night
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Empire of Night

    Written by Robert Olen Butler

    Narrated by Ray Chase

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    It is 1917, and the United States is still wavering on the brink of war. At an elite intelligence meeting at a Hyde Park mansion, Kit's handlers pair him up with someone he would never have expected-his mother. There's a German mole somewhere in the British government, and the most likely suspect happens to be a diehard fan of the famous American theater actress Isabel Cobb. Disguised as a German-American reporter named Joseph William Hunter, Kit follows his mother and her escort Sir Albert Stockman from the relative safety of London into the lion's den of Berlin.This third installment in Butler's critically-acclaimed series features the swash-buckling action, charismatic leading man, and artful prose that have won the hearts of historical crime fiction fans everywhere.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateOct 7, 2014
    ISBN9781622314683
    Author

    Robert Olen Butler

    Robert Olen Butler is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of sixteen novels and six volumes of short fiction. He has twice won a National Magazine Award in Fiction and received the 2013 F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for American Literature. He teaches creative writing at Florida State University.

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    Reviews for The Empire of Night

    4/5

    20 ratings9 reviews

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    • 4/5
      3.5 stars. Some scenes that could do with trimming, but other scenes are quite good.
    • 5/5
      Empire of the Night – Another Brilliant Outing For Kit CobbEmpire of the Night is the third book in the Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe Cobb spy thriller series from the excellent writer Robert Olen Butler. Butler once again has researched and written an exciting story that draws you, some may accuse him of being formulaic, but one thing this book is; is predictable. There are once again nods to some historic figures some of whom you will have heard of such as Einstein and others such as Dr Fritz Haber you may not have heard of.Kit Cobb is back in London at the Tavistock Hotel, where the United States have placed their journalist come spy when required. While little over 150 miles away the First Battle of Ypres has taken place and London night life seems to be continuing apace. Cobb has received a ticket from his mother to see her play Hamlet while they are both in London.He is later informed that he and his mother are working together to spy on Sir Albert Stockman a Member of Parliament for a Kent constituency and suspected traitor. Cobb has been given a back story of being a journalist who is writing for a pro-German American newspaper that is focusing on the work of Isobel Cobb. He is invited along with his mother for a weekend to spend the weekend at the home of Sir Albert Stockman. He takes the opportunity to search for evidence either for or against Stockman as to whether he is a traitor or not. When one of his employees is murdered he disappears along with Isobel Cobb in the night.Then begins his real work as an American spy as he is sent to Berlin to spy on Albert Stockman and find out what he is doing. So begins the many twists in the story as he has to somehow stay ahead of Stockman, find out what he wants to do or is going to do. As well as find out why Stockman has such an interest in the Zeppelins that have been bombing London during the course of the war.What we get is an introduction to the thoughts of the Germans towards their enemy the English and how the blockade was affecting the people of Germany. He also finds not everyone is supportive of the Kaiser but who he can trust is another matter. He also needs to stay as close as he can to Stockman without being caught or suspected to be an American spy. At the same time we see Cobb’s relationship with his mother develop further and how they need each other to stay alive.Robert Olen Butler has written an excellent spy thriller that has the right amounts of twists while remaining a pacey story, and avoiding the usual spy clichés. His research is second to none, especially when he mentions a beer that has not been brewed in nearly 75 years which shows how far he is willing to go to make sure the lives are reflective of the period. An excellent spy thriller that is not predictable but enjoyable from beginning to end.
    • 4/5
      It is 1915 and Kit Cobb is working undercover in a castle in Kent which is owned by a suspected British Government Mole Sir Albert. This is one of a series of books that features Kit Cobb, I have not previously read any of the other books. I have never read or heard of the author and this series before.I found this to be a finely laced together story. It mixed intrigue and politics and was a rip roaring yarn. It is told from the view of an American during the 1st world war.As Kit gets closer to discovering exactly what Sir Albert is capable of, the tension mounts and all the while having to try and ensure that his mother doesn’t let her feelings interfere with their duty to the U.S. intelligence service.I found this book to be a thoroughly good read and will activiely seek out other books from this author to read.
    • 5/5
      I was really please to be asked to review The Empire of Night from Real Readers as I was familiar with this authors writing. I have previously reviewed The Hot Country and The Star of Istanbul.This is the third Christopher Marlowe Cobb book in the series. As this book is not due for publication till November I urge you to get into this author’s writing by reading the first two books.The main character “Kit”Cobb is an established spy working for the American Government, but in the cover of a war correspondent. The date is 1915 in the heart of London’s Theatreland and at the beginning of the bombing of London; his mother who is an actress joins her son who travels to Berlin. This is a dangerous time and double espionage. Appropriate that this is a hundred years ago and the Great War is being remembered. Although this is fiction the author has researched this period well and fact and fiction work so well in this thriller. The characters are written well, and has worked the story round writing in the first personThe author has established himself so well now and is producing great thrillers. The author has written a first world war James Bond and it is almost Ian Fleming meets James Buchan.This author is going places and I would urge you to dip your toe into some great thriller writing.
    • 5/5
      The Empire of Night - Robert Olen ButlerThis is the third Christopher Marlowe Cobb thriller and I’m tempted to say that if you’ve read one then you’ve read them all but that sounds derogatory and that couldn't be further from my intention.This edition, apparently, “is a special pre publication limited edition of 200 copies to mark the Robert Olen Butler UK tour”. But before you get as excited as I did the tour was in May and I missed it.My real problem is what can I add to what I have already said in my reviews of the previous two books? It is on a par with them, formulaic almost but without being predictable. What that does though is allow one to know what to expect from the writer. However all of these books can be enjoyed as stand alone tales. They all have a consistency within them.What I particularly enjoyed in The Empire of Night is the development and exploration of the relationship between Kit and his mother. I thought that was very well done and captured enough emotion without being sentimental. Other than that, again, it’s structured, intelligent writing from an experienced writer. A good adventure story, a war story with a purpose, some cerebral violence that never becomes gratuitous, doesn't make it pleasant though. And plenty of characters created with depth and integrity. It’s excellent of its genre and won't disappoint if you’re a fan of the genre, and the previous stories.
    • 4/5
      The Empire of Night is the third book in a series featuring Christopher “Kit” Marlow Cobb. The story continues from the previous instalment (‘The Star of Istanbul’) but it can be read as a stand-alone novel. The story takes place during WWI and Kit is now a fully-fledged spy working undercover for the American government and aided by British counterparts. He is now joined by Isabel Cobb, his actress mother, who will play a pivotal role in his new mission. As part of her touring production of Hamlet, Isabel will travel to Berlin with her new male fan and suitor, Sir Albert Stockman, a suspected British government mole and possible German spy. Kit will follow his mother into Berlin and will play a double game of espionage where the future of the city of London and American involvement in the war are in danger.I have enjoyed this thrill-logy (yes, these novels are very fast paced and will keep you in suspense) and love the character of Kit Cobb. The plot gets more engaging and interesting from novel to novel and the storyline in this latest installment surpassed the previous novel. The situations are very realistic and the story is fascinating and very fast paced. The mission on the zeppelin at the end of the book kept me in suspense and I could not put the book down. The character of Isabel Cobb takes a more prominent role this time and the relationship between Kit and his mother is explained in more depth, which also gives more insight into the character’s upbringing and childhood.The narrative was very fast-paced and the suspense of the plot kept me hooked until the very end. I am very much looking forward to the fourth installment in the series. Kit deserves more missions and I can’t wait to read them.
    • 4/5
      Another great read from Robert Olen Butler! This novel sees the protagonist Christopher Cobb caught up in more dealings concerning the British government during the first world war. The author has an amazing knack of getting right inside all the characters of his novels, even though the story is written in the first person. The prose is very descriptive without being in any way annoying and you find yourself caring about the characters and what happens to them and indeed the wider community during such dreadful times. I have no qualms about recommending this book and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      In this book Kit Cobb is once again back as a full blown spy with the cover of a war correspondent. Set in WW1 we meet his mother, the beautiful and talented actress Isabel.Kit is trying to track down a german collaborator, a british lord named Sir Albert Stockman who is involved with the zeppelin attacks on London.Isabel we find, sometimes works for american intelligence and is tasked with getting close to Albert. Although, she gets too close, and this puts Kit's mission in jeopardy.Parts of the book grab you with excitement and suspense athough it takes a while to get into the charcter of Kit and believe how he can juggle 2 personas.The timing of the book in WW1 is well done and when mother and son find themselves in Berlin in the heart of the troubles Kit must remain in character under the nose of the Kaiser.Fact and fiction merge well. The seductive world of espionage draws you into the book and closer to the world of Kit and his mother
    • 2/5
      I am attempting to read all the books my mother gave to me, so this is not a book that I would pick to read. The series is Christopher Marlowe Cobb, an interesting name, but does not live up to the expectations. The premise of a mother and a so working together as spies during WWI might conjure a magical story, unfortunately the relationship skirts decency. Butler does an excellent job with characters and setting, but the story line falls short. The final scenes seem unrealistic. This is not a series that I will continue.