The best Tim Tigner Thriller

Any additional comments?

When I reviewed Flash last week I said that I can’t wait to get my hands on the next Thriller by Tim Tigner. Little did I know that the release of Chasing Ivan was just around the corner. This is the third audiobook by Mr. Tigner, and like the previous two, it is narrated by Dick Hill. Today, I had the great pleasure and honor to review it for you.

In Chasing Ivan we follow the endeavors of three good main characters and a skilled villain. We have Kyle Achilles, a 5 year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Special Operations Group, his new rookie partner, a woman called Jo Monfort and the young estranged daughter of an important politician from the United Kingdom.

The story opens in London, UK with Kyle looking for a way to find and eliminate the elusive international criminal mind known as Ivan. While having Emily under surveillance, her blind date turns the tables and Kyle has to follow the politician’s offspring to a yacht show in France and from that point forward the thrills come one after another, never stopping until the conclusion of this highly entertaining novella.

Tim Tigner’s writing has evolved and refined with the passing of time, and with Chasing Ivan he delivers his best book yet. The story is immersive and interesting, with lots of plot twists and high-octane moments. The characters are richly drawn and likable, while the bad guy is mysterious and resourceful. Kyle Achilles is a really nice guy, exceedingly funny, with deep morals and skilled at his job. I really liked that his story is told in first person, it gave me more insight into his persona. Jo wants to impress Kyle by any means possible and Emily lives with her head in the clouds, hoping to meet Prince Charming on her blind date…

Dick Hill is performing Chasing Ivan brilliantly, making use of his massive arsenal of voices. He delivers Kyle’s funny puns with style and mirth, while differentiating between Jo and Emily by using French and British accents for each of them. He even has to get his patented Russian voice out of the closet for a few hilarious exchanges… Well, as I said, time and time again, Dick Hill is one of my favorite narrators and I’m glad he read Chasing Ivan.

As a note for those who want to purchase the audiobook version of Chasing Ivan, at the end of this listen you will be treated with a short preview for the next Kyle Achilles Thriller. I’m really happy to see that Tim Tigner has, finally, decided to create a series, because the readers will buy more easily a book from a saga they know and love. Chasing Ivan is just 4 hours long, but it packs lots of memorable characters and entertaining moments to be worth the price tag of $13, especially if you enjoy Dick Hill‘s work as much as I do.

I can’t wait for the next adventure from Tim Tigner, hopefully performed again by Dick Hill. After reading three of his books in the last month Mr. Tigner just became one of my favorite Thriller writers out there, alongside Brett Battles, Mark Greaney, Robert Crais and many others.

34 people found this helpful

Great new author!

What made the experience of listening to Chasing Ivan the most enjoyable?

Tim definitely has a knack for coming up with unusual weapons and circumstances. I wonder what he'll think of next. Adding to my enjoyment was an unexpected twist near the surprise ending.

What other book might you compare Chasing Ivan to and why?

I'd compare Tim Tigner's work to Daniel Silva's for the nuanced plots and Vince Flynn's for the speed and Lee Child's for the interesting characters.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Chasing Ivan had American, English, French, and Russian characters. Dick Hill brings them all to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the end -- but don't want to give it away here.

Any additional comments?

I'll use my next credit to buy another Tim Tigner novel. I hope he keeps them coming.

11 people found this helpful

Edge of Your Seat Espionage Thriller

Would you listen to Chasing Ivan again? Why?

Yes! Chasing Ivan is a powerfully addictive story by an exciting new author, and Dick Hill's performance is superb.

This was my second Tim Tiger book, and it won't be my last.

What other book might you compare Chasing Ivan to and why?

I am a huge fan of this genre, reading novels from authors such as Vince Flynn, Steve Berry, Brad Taylor, Ben Coes, James Rollins, and more. Tim Tigner crafts a novel that keeps you every bit as much intrigued and on the edge of your seat as these fine authors.

This is a must listen. I'm looking forward to an Achilles sequel!

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes kept building and building until the surprising climaxes (plural) at the end. A lot of depth and action for a novella. Great character development.

8 people found this helpful

A non-stop listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who likes the non-stop action and a narrator who really has a gift for making you want to listen to his voice.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the international flavor of the book and how the writer explained the differences between having someone who is in the CIA but not by the usual means (have to listen to find out).

Which scene was your favorite?

The underwater scene has to be my favorite.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some smiles but not crying.

Any additional comments?

I think this is going to be a great series and can't wait to listen to the next book in the Achilles series.

7 people found this helpful

good read.. if you like Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy

Good story, written well. on the edge of your seat. can wait to read more

5 people found this helpful

Good listen!

Enjoyed this book! This is my third Tim Tigner book. Stories are always good and hold my interest. Fan of Dick Hill and have listened to many of his performances. Does excellent work for Tigner novels!

4 people found this helpful

Great novella

I like Dick Hill's narration. The story was very good. I always like Tigner's characters.

4 people found this helpful

Tim Tigner, author - remember that name!

Ex-Green Beret Tim Tigner released his first novel 3 years ago and he is beginning to build a following in the espionage thriller world. Three of his four novels are available at Audible including Chasing Ivan (which is a 4 hour novella - the others are longer). Dick Hill, the wonderful narrator of the Jack Reacher books among many others, narrates.

The protagonist of Chasing Ivan is CIA agent Kyle Achilles who does a poor job of following orders while doing a great job of getting the job done. His partner is rookie CIA agent Josephine (Jo) Monfort who has some unique skills of her own.

Chasing Ivan is a tremendously entertaining listen. I recommend it highly. My next listen is Flash, another Tim Tigner espionage novel.

14 people found this helpful

My new favorite author

If you could sum up Chasing Ivan in three words, what would they be?

A great performance

What did you like best about this story?

Tense and gripping

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked the whole book

Any additional comments?

The combination of Tim's writing and Dick's narration is riveting.

8 people found this helpful

Fantastic intro into a wonderful new author.

This was a novella, but packed with action and fun. Read this and then read "Pushing Brilliance" next, a full novel that continues with this hero. I almost think it would have been great to include this as the first part of "Pushing Brilliance" since it gives the back story of the protagonist. Maybe the publishing world saw fit to separate them, but get both. They are fantastic if you like Lee Child, Mark Greaney, Mark Dawson, and Brad Taylor. It is still early, on the audiobook serial side, so I look forward to see the growth and development of the series and I hope he continues to use fellow teammate characters.

6 people found this helpful