4 fascinating audiobooks that look at the cost of war

Four audiobooks offer dramatic portrayals of the ravages of World Wars I and II. All titles are also available from www.audible.com.

1. "The Paris Architect," by Charles Belfoure

Hideaways have long been part of history, from priest holes to secret closets. Here, Lucien Bernard, a French architect working for the Nazis, agrees to create clandestine spaces when approached by a man offering a hefty sum. But eventually the job becomes more than a job and Lucien slowly evolves from a man who cared not a whit for the Jews into a hero ready to risk his life. Charles Belfoure makes just a few mistakes with this intriguing debut novel, most notably leaving minor story lines incomplete. Mark Bramhall’s delivery – giving German and French speakers unique inflections, but reading straight narration sans accent – lets characters stand out.  Grade: A–

(Read by Mark Bramhall, Random House Audio, 9 CDs, 11 hours)
 

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