Review: The inner side and workings of international espionage
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 24, 2012
This book is a political / spy thriller set in times right before, during, and after 9/11.The terse, almost shorthand prose gives the sense of tension and suspense. The dialog is constructed of equally terse sentences and loaded with idiomatic expressions that provide the shortcut to the speaker's emotional state at the time. It seems the author decided to bring the dialog as close as possible to how people would talk in the real life to better emphasize the realities of the inner workings of the characters. Among those characters, voices of Pat and, surprisingly, Rich, tend to stand out even though they are not really likable while that of Samer and Danny come through as less impressive but more sympathetic.The story structure is complex with many sub-plots emerging and intertwining later on as events unfold. This is a staple mark of a modern political & spy thriller, in the best traditions of Tom Clancy. The first part of the novel prepares the settings and does an exposition on the characters. This is a time-honored formula so, for an experienced thriller fan, this is a given. For a casual reader, I'd wish there was a little more in terms of hints spread out through the first part of the book as to things to come. However, do not despair - that sense of tension I've mentioned earlier will make you turn the pages to find what happens to the characters and to see the events unfolding. And right before the second part of the novel begins, the action picks up considerably.The use of abbreviations, foreign words, and specialized names and slang does give the tale the air of authenticity. It also makes it harder to get into reading in the beginning so, my advice is - look through the Glossary provided at the end of the book first; this will make reading this novel a much more enjoyable experience.Despite these minor criticisms, I think the author is a talented storyteller who wrote a tight, tense, and provocative story that will keep fans of intrigue, international conspiracies, and behind-the-door double dealings reading till the end. With more and even better books to come, hopefully. Recommended.