Fellowship of Fear

Aaron Elkins

Jan 2019 · Gideon Oliver Mysteries Book 1 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Joel Richards

About this audiobook

When anthropology professor Gideon Oliver is offered a teaching fellowship at U.S. military bases in Germany, Sicily, Spain, and Holland, he wastes no time accepting. Stimulating courses to teach, a decent stipend, all expenses paid, plenty of interesting European travel . . . What's not to like? It does not take him long to find out. On his first night, he is forced to fend off two desperate, black-clad men who have invaded his Heidelberg hotel room with intent to kill. And then there are a few trivial details that the recruiting agency forgot to mention-such as the fact that the two previous holders of the fellowship both met with mysterious ends. From there, it is all downhill. Gideon finds himself the target in an unfamiliar game for which no one has bothered to give him the rules. What he does have is his own considerable intellect and his remarkable forensic skills. He will need them, for he is playing for some fairly high stakes: the security of Western Europe.

Ratings and reviews

An oldie but the beginner of a fine series (the others keep getting better). Introducing Gideon Oliver, a professor with a tendency to talk over everyone's head but knows his stuff and gets the job done. This story is more of a "deadly spies who are buffoons" than a murder mystery and is set in Europe rather than the Pacific northwest, but the characters are interesting and so is the plot. Besides, it was on sale! Joel Richards is convincing as the narrator.

About the author

Aaron Elkins is a former anthropologist who has been writing mysteries and thrillers since 1982. He won an Edgar for Old Bones, as well as a subsequent Agatha with his wife Charlotte, and a Nero Wolfe Award. His major continuing series features forensic anthropologist-detective Gideon Oliver, "the Skeleton Detective."

Joel Richards was the kid who did crazy things just to have a good story to tell afterward. On deciding to make his affection his profession, he received a BFA in acting and a BA in English from the University of Utah. He has narrated over 150 audiobooks and continues to tell his original stories to live audiences.