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- Title: Code of Conduct: A Thriller
- Author: Brad Thor
- Narrator: Armand Schultz
- Length: 12:37:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 07/07/2015
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense, Political Thriller
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something about the open road that makes a good thriller even more exhilarating. Maybe it’s the way the landscape blurs past, mirroring the pulse-quickening pace of a well-told tale. Or perhaps it’s that sense of being untethered, which makes the stakes in a political thriller feel all the more real. Whatever the reason, I found myself gripping the steering wheel a little tighter as I listened to Brad Thor’s ‘Code of Conduct’ during my last journey through the winding roads of the Andes – a perfect setting for a story that takes listeners from the corridors of power to the world’s most dangerous corners.
The story unfolds like a high-stakes international chess game, with Scot Harvath as the knight moving across the board – unpredictable, deadly, and always one step ahead of his opponents. Thor’s writing is as sharp as the mountain air at 15,000 feet, and listening to Armand Schultz’s narration, I was reminded of those evenings in Oaxaca where every pause, every inflection carried weight. Schultz doesn’t just read the story – he breathes life into it, his voice shifting seamlessly from the measured tones of political operators to the grittier cadences of special operatives.
What struck me most was how Thor balances the personal with the geopolitical. There’s a moment when Harvath receives that fateful four-second video clip – Schultz delivers this scene with such perfect timing that I found myself pulling over to fully absorb it, much like I did when first encountering Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism in the Atacama. The audio medium amplifies these pivotal moments, making the tension almost tactile.
The novel’s exploration of hidden power structures resonated with my anthropological background. Thor’s depiction of elite committees operating in the shadows reminded me of secret societies I’ve encountered in my travels – the way power consolidates in unexpected places. Schultz’s narration captures this perfectly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper when needed, then booming with authority during action sequences.
As a travel writer, I particularly appreciated the globe-trotting nature of the story. From DC to distant conflict zones, Thor and Schultz transport you completely. There’s a scene set in a Middle Eastern marketplace that was so vividly rendered I could almost smell the spices and hear the haggling – a testament to both Thor’s descriptive prowess and Schultz’s ability to paint with sound.
The pacing is relentless, like a downhill mountain bike ride where you can’t hit the brakes. At times, I wished for more moments to catch my breath, to linger in some of the more atmospheric settings. But this is a minor quibble in what’s otherwise a masterclass in thriller writing and performance.
Compared to other political thrillers I’ve experienced in audio form, ‘Code of Conduct’ stands out for its combination of intellectual heft and visceral action. It’s more grounded than some of Vince Flynn’s work, yet more philosophically engaged than your typical airport thriller. Schultz’s narration strikes the perfect balance between these elements – he’s equally convincing delivering a tense interrogation scene as he is voicing the moral dilemmas that haunt Harvath.
For listeners who enjoy their thrillers with a side of real-world relevance, this is an essential listen. The audio format adds layers of immersion that the printed page can’t match – from the subtle changes in Schultz’s voice for different characters to the way he ratchets up the tension during key sequences. It’s the kind of performance that makes you sit in your car after arriving at your destination, just to hear a few more minutes.
If I had to offer one piece of advice to potential listeners, it would be this: clear your schedule. Like that perfect bowl of pozole I once had in a Mexico City mercado, this is an experience you’ll want to consume in one sitting. The story’s twists and turns demand your full attention, and Schultz’s narration rewards it amply.
As the sun sets on this review, I’m reminded of something an old storyteller in Marrakech once told me: ‘The best tales are those that make the world feel both larger and smaller at once.’ Thor and Schultz have accomplished exactly that with ‘Code of Conduct.’ It’s a journey that will quicken your pulse while making you think – the perfect companion for long travels or quiet evenings when you crave adventure. Until our next literary expedition, may your roads be winding and your stories thrilling.
– Marcus
Marcus Rivera
