Layover in Dubai

A Novel

By: Dan Fesperman

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Corporate auditor Sam Keller, careful to a fault, has decided to live it up for a change. And what better spot for business-class hedonism than the boomtown of Dubai, where resort islands materialize from open ocean, fortunes are made overnight, and skiers crisscross the snowy slopes of a shopping mall.

But when a colleague is murdered during a night on the town, Sam soon finds himself waist-deep in a bewildering, lethal mix of mobsters, prostitutes, and crooked cops.

Offering a chancy way out is Anwar Sharaf, the unlikeliest of detectives. A former pearl diver and gold smuggler with an undignified demeanor, Sharaf is sometimes as baffled as Sam by the changes to his homeland. But he knows where the levers of power reside. And as the unlikely duo work their way toward the heart of the case, each man must confront the darkest forces threatening Dubai from within.

A stunning portrait of a world where the old and new continually collide, and Dan Fesperman’s most suspenseful novel yet.

©2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2010 Dan Fesperman

It could have taken place anywhere...

Don't expect a lot of Middle Eastern cinematic descriptions, nor exotic locales. This is a good thriller, but could have just as easily been set in Cleveland. Well-drawn characters, but pretty stock types. Several dove-tailed plot lines seemed a bit contrived to bring them to a single conclusion, but there is enough high stakes intrigue to keep it interesting.

Fesperman is HOT…4 in a row!

Fourth Fesperman I’ve read and all of them are stellar. This , unfortunately, is a stand alone novel. Well written, well narrated. Incredible suspense. Between my shallow understanding of Saudi culture and corporate auditing it kept me wondering what could possibly happen next.

Do yourself a favor and listen to the this incredible story. I promise you be listening repeatedly to this and three others I’ve read, Winter Work, Safe Houses and The Cover Wife.

Fesperman is a find

A wonderful thriller by a writer I have recently discovered. Great plot, great characters, great narration. Don’t miss it!

Loved it!

I read it because I was going to Dubai and I liked the sound of the overview. I found I was listening to it every spare moment. I not only enjoyed the story but learnt alot about the culure and landscape of Dubai. It really enhanced my visit. I'm looking forward to listening to some of his other books.

Dubai Dubai Doo

I like books that take me to odd places and make me feel as though I understand them, all while entertaining me with a good yarn. This book works well that way. The multiple points of view allow insight into many aspects of Dubai culture and history and current events (million-dollar car wrecks alone are worth the price of admission), I care about what's going to happen to the characters, and they get in enough tight spots the author has to be inventive to extricate them over and over again. The narrator can handle the accents well enough to convince me he knows what he's talking about.

Well-written & performed mystery in faraway land

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

Yes...this book transcends the novelty of the setting and winds up being a generally well done and fun novel with flawed but lovable characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anwar Sharaf becomes your favorite. He has a great backstory and perfectly conveys the conflict between traditional values and modern living, while being a loving father and loyal ally to Sam.

Have you listened to any of Christopher Lane’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I thought the performance was excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I picked this up after a trip to Dubai. I had meant to read it on the plane but wound up listening afterwards and I'm glad I did--the places meant a lot more to me after my visit. I was pleasantly surprised that this was such a good story, regardless of the location.

Marvelous: funny, well read and suspenseful

This is a terrific audiobook. Christopher Lane is the perfect narrator for it. He has mastered numerous mid-Eastern accents, and does women just as well as men. The story has wonderful twists and turns, some of them straining credulity a bit, but when you're having fun, who cares? The ending actually is a little abrupt, as you simply want the book to keep going. I haven't read anything else by this author, but I will. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys funny, irreverent, well-narrated thrillers.

My first book from Dan Fesperman and well narrate

My first book from Dan Fesperman and well narrated by Christopher Lane. The Dubai characters and atmosphere in this book, along with the plot were entertaining. I liked the way the main characters developed a mutual respect for each other, as the story developed, despite the difference in their cultures. I thought this was a well crafted book and enjoyed it enough to learn more about the author and add another of his books to my wish list. I put this one in the top tier of my library.

Slow plot movement

I enjoyed the setting of Dubai. It was well-developed and interesting because it is such a different culture from the USA.

Well crafted thriller

This is a nicely crafted thriller and the Dubai setting makes it particularly fascinating. The hero is a little slow figuring out what seems obvious to us, but he is appealing in spite of this. Though there is not a great deal of action, the plot develops steadily and carries us along without ever bogging down. I was, however, somewhat disappointed with the lack of a satisfying confrontation between the adversaries at the end.

The book is also well served by the reader. He establishes strong vocal characters, manages dialects well and is a pleasure to listen to.