Preview
  • Zoo Station

  • John Russell WWII Spy, Book 1
  • By: David Downing
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (67 ratings)

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Zoo Station

By: David Downing
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

By 1939, Anglo-American journalist John Russell has spent over a decade in Berlin, where his son lives with his mother. He writes human-interest pieces for British and American papers, avoiding the investigative journalism that could get him deported. But as World War II approaches, he faces having to leave his son as well as his girlfriend of several years, a beautiful German starlet.

When an acquaintance from his old communist days approaches him to do some work for the Soviets, Russell is reluctant, but he is unable to resist the offer. He becomes involved in other dangerous activities, helping a Jewish family and a determined young American reporter. When the British and the Nazis notice his involvement with the Soviets, Russell is dragged into the murky world of warring intelligence services.

©2007 David Downing (P)2021 Recorded Books Inc.
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What listeners say about Zoo Station

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved this story

Unusual location and time for a spy novel. Great story- it did a great job of capturing the time and place of pre WW II Berlin and Nazi Germany.
Highly recommend and I look forward to listening to the rest of the series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I love this series!

I’ve read the first two and am so excited there are more! Outstanding series!! The characters, the storyline…all of it was amazing.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Boring

The Narrator voice is boring as is the story , found the book to be monotonous ,if this is the first of the series , this is one series wory a miss

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

Interesting, enlightening and shocking insight of brutality of Nazi regime written to insert reader into those horrific conditions and time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric, subtle work of WW2 fiction

The author, narrator and characters took awhile to grab me, but I appreciated the pace and subtlety of what was being orchestrated and am happy I stuck with it. Beautiful historical detail and believable human dilemmas and suspense. More for those who seek time travel to this dramatic enough historical period than for those looking for action and mayhem.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

WW2 spy story

I thought that the author properly described what life was like pre war in Nazi Germany. And built a story around that miserable experience.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Spy novel with literary thrust


This felt like Act I as I read it. Allowing it to hold that position in the series had me appreciating the way Downing handled the slow burn and intricate and nuanced humanity of espionage. I have high hopes for the rest of the series built upon a solid foundation. I like the characters, the precarious nature of Russell’s position, and his “everyman” approach to spy craft. Not to mention the supporting cast, world building, atmospheric tension, and a nice balance between interiority and plot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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A history lesson!

For me, born in 1948, it is a lesson in Third Reich history: detailed, educational, thrilling and, in parts, heartbreaking.
Simon Prebble is a great narrator. I only wish he had been given some advice regarding the pronunciation of German words (names, places, streets etc). Nevertheless, I am looking forward to Silesian Station.

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Overall great listen!

The story wove intense stories of humans entrenched in a changing world and attempting to cope. The narrator’s voice matched the mood of the times and each character.

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Gripping

Vividly portrayed suspense with heart. Compassion intrigue and morale dilemmas confront characters in Nazi Germany.

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