It should come as no surprise that Hugh Laurie's 1996 novel The Gun Seller is a hilarious spoof. Writing long before House, Laurie transferred his extensive background in British television comedy onto the page in an action-packed spy novel, which Simon Prebble now gives voice in an audiobook edition.
Former British soldier Thomas Lang hires himself out for just about any job, but he draws the line at killing. Confronted with a murder-for-hire offer, Lang turns it down and heads directly to the intended victim in order to warn him. This is mistake number one--and sets the course for the chaos to follow. Before he has a solid grasp on his situation, Lang's in the middle of a terrorist attack... and he's the terrorist.
Prebble's narration of Laurie's work highlights the sharp, sarcastic wit and the wildly absurd circumstances Lang stumbles upon. While never compromising the entertaining nature of the plot, Prebble ensures that the underlying social commentary is always clear.
However, Prebble's interpretation of Lang may come off to some listeners as overly sophisticated, and some of the American roles as exaggeratedly macho. Despite this minor quibble, the audiobook is a captivating listening experience. Prebble tunes into Laurie's pacing and atmosphere to build anticipation and delivers a performance that connects readers with Lang and leaves them anxiously hoping he'll defeat the odds--and the bad guys. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts