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John Wells #8
The Counterfeit Agent
John Wells returns for another deadly mission from New York Times bestselling author Alex Berenson...In an Istanbul hotel, a deep source warns a CIA agent that Iran intends to kill a CIA station chief. Quickly, John Wells is called in to investigate, but before he can get far, the tip comes true. Which means that the next warning the source gives will be taken very seriously indeed. And it’s a big one.
A radioactive one.
As the threat level jumps and the government mobilizes, Wells must figure out what’s really going on. From a drug lord’s mansion in Guatemala to a secret plastic surgery center in Thailand to the slums of Istanbul, Wells uses every skill he has—including his ability to go undercover in the Arab world—to chase down leads. But the enemy he faces is equally determined. And soon he may be too late to pull the United States back from the brink of war…
374 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
March 12, 2014
I consider myself an Alex Berenson fan so it pains me to say that I truly didn't enjoy this book. At times I was slightly bored and for some reason I wasn't very impressed with John this outing. **** SPOILER ALERT****
Him walking into that trap was pretty ridiculous. Not sure what the point of that was other than for John to get caught and then dazzle us with how he escapes. The John of old would never have walked into that so brazenly. It almost feels like the character's personality has changed. While he has always been brazen, he's never been stupid. That move seemed dumb to me.
The Anne thing was pretty much a repeat of Exley. Not sure what the point of that was either. In addition, I'm not sure why but I almost didn't care about him this book. And the introduction on the last ten pages or so of the real villain felt lubricous, rushed and almost an insult to the readers intelligence. If this book was going to roll into another- fine. But at least introduce, insinuate, or set up the villain so we actually care or are shocked by the connection/implications. He introduces a villain that we have no idea exists or why and we are supposed to be left with a cliff-hanger. Worst of all for me was Wells ambivalence toward the woman. It felt a little sexist. In previous outings, John will scorch the earth to erase a villain. This woman calmly drugged him, kidnaped him, was clearly in control and he wasn't even really bothered. Actually drove by her. I like this character but it was almost like he didn't have a personality...hard to explain. Lastly, the fact that there was no mention of any Iranian official contacting the White House or Langley to refute the charges was a bit far-fetched to me. Guess that will be left for the next book.
While I appreciated the research and connections to real-life events, at time it felt a little preachy and not so much non-fiction. I like to stretch the idea of plausibility when reading in this genre but when you are blasted with events/themes/people that are real it blurs the lines between fiction and non-fiction.
I usually devour Berenson's book's from publication day but this time I struggled to get through it within two weeks. Glad this was a library loan. As the next one will be.....
Him walking into that trap was pretty ridiculous. Not sure what the point of that was other than for John to get caught and then dazzle us with how he escapes. The John of old would never have walked into that so brazenly. It almost feels like the character's personality has changed. While he has always been brazen, he's never been stupid. That move seemed dumb to me.
The Anne thing was pretty much a repeat of Exley. Not sure what the point of that was either. In addition, I'm not sure why but I almost didn't care about him this book. And the introduction on the last ten pages or so of the real villain felt lubricous, rushed and almost an insult to the readers intelligence. If this book was going to roll into another- fine. But at least introduce, insinuate, or set up the villain so we actually care or are shocked by the connection/implications. He introduces a villain that we have no idea exists or why and we are supposed to be left with a cliff-hanger. Worst of all for me was Wells ambivalence toward the woman. It felt a little sexist. In previous outings, John will scorch the earth to erase a villain. This woman calmly drugged him, kidnaped him, was clearly in control and he wasn't even really bothered. Actually drove by her. I like this character but it was almost like he didn't have a personality...hard to explain. Lastly, the fact that there was no mention of any Iranian official contacting the White House or Langley to refute the charges was a bit far-fetched to me. Guess that will be left for the next book.
While I appreciated the research and connections to real-life events, at time it felt a little preachy and not so much non-fiction. I like to stretch the idea of plausibility when reading in this genre but when you are blasted with events/themes/people that are real it blurs the lines between fiction and non-fiction.
I usually devour Berenson's book's from publication day but this time I struggled to get through it within two weeks. Glad this was a library loan. As the next one will be.....
March 9, 2014
Just Okay -- And Several Notches Below The Early Books In This Series!
The Counterfeit Agent is the seventh book in the John Wells series, which has become very formulaic. While it is moderately entertaining, it is far less interesting, suspenseful, well-plotted, and much less of a page-turner than most of the early book in the series. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until its last 40 or 50 pages that The Counterfeit Agent generated any real thrills -- and then the book just ended without any "conclusion!" That is, to be continued in the sequel to follow in about a year or so.
Further on a comparative basis, The Counterfeit Agent falls considerably short in terms of dimensionalizing his main character and particularly his supportive characters; to the point that readers who have not read most of this author's previous books might feel they don't know the characters well enough to care much about what happens to them.
After my, at best, moderate satisfaction with The Counterfeit Agent and steady decline in satisfaction with each book in this series, Alex Berenson has now dropped from being one of my "don't miss" authors to "a let's wait and see what others think first" authors.
The Counterfeit Agent is the seventh book in the John Wells series, which has become very formulaic. While it is moderately entertaining, it is far less interesting, suspenseful, well-plotted, and much less of a page-turner than most of the early book in the series. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until its last 40 or 50 pages that The Counterfeit Agent generated any real thrills -- and then the book just ended without any "conclusion!" That is, to be continued in the sequel to follow in about a year or so.
Further on a comparative basis, The Counterfeit Agent falls considerably short in terms of dimensionalizing his main character and particularly his supportive characters; to the point that readers who have not read most of this author's previous books might feel they don't know the characters well enough to care much about what happens to them.
After my, at best, moderate satisfaction with The Counterfeit Agent and steady decline in satisfaction with each book in this series, Alex Berenson has now dropped from being one of my "don't miss" authors to "a let's wait and see what others think first" authors.
May 5, 2017
In South Africa, a mysterious woman negotiates for a shipment. In Istanbul, CIA case officer Brain Taylor is approached by a man named “Reza”, of the Iranian Republican Guard, with information on the Iranian nuclear weapons program. In Philadelphia, former head of the CIA, Senator Vinnie Duto receives a message from a Colombian national Montoya, who he “ran’ while he was station chief in Bogota, years before.
Neither Duto nor his former deputy Ellis Shafer are in favour within the current structure of the CIA, sending their “ghost” operative John Wells to Guatemala City to meet Montoya. The Colombian has intelligence to trade: he was approached by an American named “Hank”, recruiting a “team” for covert operations. He and Peruvian Eduardo Nuňez, also approached, worked for a Mexican cartel. Nuňez bit, and tells Montoya that the target is a station chief.
These three elements intertwine in this fast-paced thriller, Berensen’s 8th book; the action shifting between the States, Latin America, Middle East and Asia. As the US is drawn closer to a nuclear standoff with Iran, Wells is torn between his love for Anne and the chance of a “normal life”, and the adrenaline rush of being a covert operative, on the trail of rogue CIA agent Glenn Mason.
On the way we are given insights into Mason’s upbringing, unstable love life and the personal crisis which saw him leave Lima for Baghdad, then Hong Kong where he spirals out of control. The climax finds Wells, a true professional, fighting for his life against a foe that, in spite of taking on a new name and face, can’t leave the past behind.
This book provides the prequel to “Twelve Days” and left me with mixed views. I enjoyed the third person narrative, the minor characters drifting in and out of the story, descriptions of Phuket (Thailand) and Istanbul (Turkey) and detailed fight sequences. But why would a man of John Wells’ calibre take such risks without backup? In the final chapters the mysterious woman running Mason escapes and Duto has worked out who is back-rolling the operation. But I will certainly read more of this author, when I'm ready.
Neither Duto nor his former deputy Ellis Shafer are in favour within the current structure of the CIA, sending their “ghost” operative John Wells to Guatemala City to meet Montoya. The Colombian has intelligence to trade: he was approached by an American named “Hank”, recruiting a “team” for covert operations. He and Peruvian Eduardo Nuňez, also approached, worked for a Mexican cartel. Nuňez bit, and tells Montoya that the target is a station chief.
These three elements intertwine in this fast-paced thriller, Berensen’s 8th book; the action shifting between the States, Latin America, Middle East and Asia. As the US is drawn closer to a nuclear standoff with Iran, Wells is torn between his love for Anne and the chance of a “normal life”, and the adrenaline rush of being a covert operative, on the trail of rogue CIA agent Glenn Mason.
On the way we are given insights into Mason’s upbringing, unstable love life and the personal crisis which saw him leave Lima for Baghdad, then Hong Kong where he spirals out of control. The climax finds Wells, a true professional, fighting for his life against a foe that, in spite of taking on a new name and face, can’t leave the past behind.
This book provides the prequel to “Twelve Days” and left me with mixed views. I enjoyed the third person narrative, the minor characters drifting in and out of the story, descriptions of Phuket (Thailand) and Istanbul (Turkey) and detailed fight sequences. But why would a man of John Wells’ calibre take such risks without backup? In the final chapters the mysterious woman running Mason escapes and Duto has worked out who is back-rolling the operation. But I will certainly read more of this author, when I'm ready.
December 2, 2020
A tip coming from a seemingly trustworthy source to a case officer at Istanbul Station warns of the impending assassination of a CIA Chief of Station in an unknown location. At the same time, a former off-the-books contact of Vinny Duto's contacts the CIA director turned senator with a similar warning, prompting Duto to send Wells to South America for a meeting. When the Manila CoS turns up dead shortly after and the Istanbul source comes back with a new warning, this time involving a potential nuclear threat to the US, Wells is on the move investigating clues across continents while the US government prepares for a war it doesn't realize it's being goaded into through an elaborate false flag operation.
This was one of the weaker books in the series for me. Too convoluted, and took too long to get going - but even so, still a solid enough read. Hopefully the next book, apparently a direct sequel tying up loose ends from this one, will ramp up the pace a bit.
This was one of the weaker books in the series for me. Too convoluted, and took too long to get going - but even so, still a solid enough read. Hopefully the next book, apparently a direct sequel tying up loose ends from this one, will ramp up the pace a bit.
February 9, 2017
This book, The Counterfeit Agent, is actually volume 1 of a two part thriller, of which Twelve Days is the second book. I read Twelve Days first, not realising it was the carry-over of an earlier book, and regret that I did not start with this one. Having said that, Twelve Days can be read as a standalone book. It is just that The Counterfeit Agent provides all the background information and prior activities of protagonist John Wells and his associates and enemies.
The premise behind the two volume story is that a wealthy private businessman has set up an elaborate plot to convince the US government to declare war on Iran. Aaron Duberman is a phenomenally rich casino magnate, with a passion for preserving the State of Israel from attacks originating in the Muslim countries, most notably Iran. He recruits the cool, reserved, attractive woman known as Salome as his principal agent, and she sets about establishing networks and creating incidents that will draw the US into a situation whereby it will invade Iran and destroy its nuclear facilities.
On the opposite side, CIA agents and chiefs have been alerted to this unusual spate of incidents, and various characters within the US security forces bring their own perspectives to the dilemma.
In this way, Berenson creates an environment in which his disillusioned, overworked, embittered agent John Wells can pursue the truth, whatever that might be. There is considerable suspense as we read about elusive characters such as Reza, a colonel in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who seems to be a double agent, and the burnt-out operative, Glenn Mason, who has a key role in convincing the US that the threat from Iran is real.
It is a cleverly crafted novel, which held my attention and kept me guessing. However, I was very peeved at the end of the book that I was left on a cliff-hanger, and that I needed to read the sequel, Twelve Days, to find out what happens next. (As mentioned above, I personally had read the sequel!) Although several plot lines are tied up nicely by the end, I would have liked a bit more closure. Had I realised the relationship with the two books, I would definitely have tackled The Counterfeit Agent first. Don't get me wrong - I have no beef with two or three part book series. I just wish that the publishers had marketed this book and its companion appropriately, so that I could have made an informed consumer choice. I guess that is the state of play with modern publishing...
The premise behind the two volume story is that a wealthy private businessman has set up an elaborate plot to convince the US government to declare war on Iran. Aaron Duberman is a phenomenally rich casino magnate, with a passion for preserving the State of Israel from attacks originating in the Muslim countries, most notably Iran. He recruits the cool, reserved, attractive woman known as Salome as his principal agent, and she sets about establishing networks and creating incidents that will draw the US into a situation whereby it will invade Iran and destroy its nuclear facilities.
On the opposite side, CIA agents and chiefs have been alerted to this unusual spate of incidents, and various characters within the US security forces bring their own perspectives to the dilemma.
In this way, Berenson creates an environment in which his disillusioned, overworked, embittered agent John Wells can pursue the truth, whatever that might be. There is considerable suspense as we read about elusive characters such as Reza, a colonel in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who seems to be a double agent, and the burnt-out operative, Glenn Mason, who has a key role in convincing the US that the threat from Iran is real.
It is a cleverly crafted novel, which held my attention and kept me guessing. However, I was very peeved at the end of the book that I was left on a cliff-hanger, and that I needed to read the sequel, Twelve Days, to find out what happens next. (As mentioned above, I personally had read the sequel!) Although several plot lines are tied up nicely by the end, I would have liked a bit more closure. Had I realised the relationship with the two books, I would definitely have tackled The Counterfeit Agent first. Don't get me wrong - I have no beef with two or three part book series. I just wish that the publishers had marketed this book and its companion appropriately, so that I could have made an informed consumer choice. I guess that is the state of play with modern publishing...
June 25, 2018
The modern history of Iran and the US is fraught with conflict. Today, Americans vilify the ayatollahs who have governed Iran since its revolution in 1979. We're all too likely to forget (assuming we ever knew in the first place) that the Iranian Revolution was in large part a consequence of the CIA operation to overthrow the elected prime minister of the country in 1953.
Then, a CIA task force led by Theodore Roosevelt's grandson, Kermit Roosevelt Jr., engineered the removal of the secular democrat Mohammad Mossadegh. That enabled Iran's monarch, Shah Reza Pahlevi, to reverse the nationalization of Western oil firms and assert his control of the Iranian people in increasingly brutal ways for nearly three decades. The Iran hostage crisis in the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979 was merely the first of a long string of conflicts between the two countries, some of which involved small-scale open warfare.
Alex Berenson's The Counterfeit Agent is one of two novels in his John Wells series that is set against the background of this ongoing high-stakes struggle. In a typically suspenseful tale, Wells takes on a rogue ex-CIA agent to head off war with Iran. Unfortunately, this is the first of two novels, and it ends with a cliffhanger. I enjoyed the book, but I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't unwittingly read the sequel first. The second of the novels, Twelve Days, opens with Iran and the US on the brink of war, exactly as the first had ended.
Like all the books in the John Wells series, The Counterfeit Agent rockets from one locale to another. The story unfolds in South Africa, Istanbul, Guatemala City, Hong Kong, Manila, Panama City, and Phuket (Thailand) as well as several locations within the United States. Clearly, Berenson is drawing on his own travels, at least some of them while working as a reporter for the New York Times. The descriptions of the foreign locales reek of authenticity.
Then, a CIA task force led by Theodore Roosevelt's grandson, Kermit Roosevelt Jr., engineered the removal of the secular democrat Mohammad Mossadegh. That enabled Iran's monarch, Shah Reza Pahlevi, to reverse the nationalization of Western oil firms and assert his control of the Iranian people in increasingly brutal ways for nearly three decades. The Iran hostage crisis in the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979 was merely the first of a long string of conflicts between the two countries, some of which involved small-scale open warfare.
Alex Berenson's The Counterfeit Agent is one of two novels in his John Wells series that is set against the background of this ongoing high-stakes struggle. In a typically suspenseful tale, Wells takes on a rogue ex-CIA agent to head off war with Iran. Unfortunately, this is the first of two novels, and it ends with a cliffhanger. I enjoyed the book, but I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't unwittingly read the sequel first. The second of the novels, Twelve Days, opens with Iran and the US on the brink of war, exactly as the first had ended.
Like all the books in the John Wells series, The Counterfeit Agent rockets from one locale to another. The story unfolds in South Africa, Istanbul, Guatemala City, Hong Kong, Manila, Panama City, and Phuket (Thailand) as well as several locations within the United States. Clearly, Berenson is drawing on his own travels, at least some of them while working as a reporter for the New York Times. The descriptions of the foreign locales reek of authenticity.
February 18, 2014
A disappointment. John Wells, Berenson's hero, largely travels the world one step too late and mostly ineffective. The mastermind behind the conspiracy involved is revealed in the last 20 pages with no hint of his existence prior to that and the lead henchman (a woman) escapes with no discussion of that fact. Clearly Berenson is setting up a sequel which makes me feel cheated.
November 25, 2021
Another mission for John Wells that have him travel around the globe. This one is to ve continue to the next book, Twelve Days.
March 4, 2018
nine nineteen ay em the 4th of march 2018 sunday morning finished good read four stars i really liked it kindle library loaner the 8th from berenson for me. been reading them in order and that makes a kind of sense although maybe one could jump around...there is a kind of chronology to them. on to the next now. will say that the business at the end at the old...sewing factory...seemed a bit off, the willing suspension needs to be willing, how it went down. paused. then went with it, okay. see what happens now...hope we see more that kind of thing. and this one touches on another in the series, earlier, that business with the saudi kingdom, that unfinished business. later maybe? we'll see.
December 13, 2019
I read this book awhile back and originally gave it 3 stars. In preparation for the next book, which is basically the sequel - Twelve Days, I scanned this one again to refresh my memory. I ended up re-reading probably half of it. I was quickly reminded that Alex Berenson is one of the best out there at modern spy fiction. There are really good parts in this book. I think it is almost worthy of 4 stars....my main issues were with the ending.
Spoilers ahead
The main antagonist in the book is a mysterious character named Salome who has assembled a team that includes a former CIA Case Officer, Glenn Mason. Their original mission was to run ops against Iran, but after slow results, their unknown benefactor wants to escalate things. The new plan is to push the US into a war with Iran with a false flag op. They create an agent that purports to be from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who feeds the CIA tips that come true: Israeli Embassy bombings, an assassination of a Chief of Station, and finally uranium smuggled into the US.
Meanwhile, an old contact of Vinny Duto (now a US Senator) has reached out with info. He brings in Ellis and John and John goes to South America to investigate. The man has an old buddy that is on Glenn Mason's mercenary team (now Abraham Duke complete with a new face) that warns the team wants to go after a Chief of Station. Wells follows the leads to Panama, Houston, and a plastic surgery clinic in Thailand, and almost saves the COS after discovering he was a rival lover of Mason's, but is a too late. Finally, he tracks him and his team to Istanbul desperate for a picture to prove the agent is a false flag, but is captured. Mason's team holds him for a few days to keep the CIA in the dark while the US is pushed to the brink of war. This turns out to be a deadly mistake as our hero escapes and kills Mason and several others. However, the US has begun bombing campaigns in Iran and war looks likely. Salome manages to gather up her team's dead bodies so that there is little evidence of the team's existence. In the final pages it is revealed that the team is being financed by a Casino mogul. This was my main issue as it comes out of nowhere.
The book ends with John and his girlfriend, Anne, breaking up since John finally came to terms with the fact he cannot leave this life behind. John also can't help deny the jolt of energy he is feeling as he begins his mission to pull back the US from war.....
Spoilers ahead
The main antagonist in the book is a mysterious character named Salome who has assembled a team that includes a former CIA Case Officer, Glenn Mason. Their original mission was to run ops against Iran, but after slow results, their unknown benefactor wants to escalate things. The new plan is to push the US into a war with Iran with a false flag op. They create an agent that purports to be from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who feeds the CIA tips that come true: Israeli Embassy bombings, an assassination of a Chief of Station, and finally uranium smuggled into the US.
Meanwhile, an old contact of Vinny Duto (now a US Senator) has reached out with info. He brings in Ellis and John and John goes to South America to investigate. The man has an old buddy that is on Glenn Mason's mercenary team (now Abraham Duke complete with a new face) that warns the team wants to go after a Chief of Station. Wells follows the leads to Panama, Houston, and a plastic surgery clinic in Thailand, and almost saves the COS after discovering he was a rival lover of Mason's, but is a too late. Finally, he tracks him and his team to Istanbul desperate for a picture to prove the agent is a false flag, but is captured. Mason's team holds him for a few days to keep the CIA in the dark while the US is pushed to the brink of war. This turns out to be a deadly mistake as our hero escapes and kills Mason and several others. However, the US has begun bombing campaigns in Iran and war looks likely. Salome manages to gather up her team's dead bodies so that there is little evidence of the team's existence. In the final pages it is revealed that the team is being financed by a Casino mogul. This was my main issue as it comes out of nowhere.
The book ends with John and his girlfriend, Anne, breaking up since John finally came to terms with the fact he cannot leave this life behind. John also can't help deny the jolt of energy he is feeling as he begins his mission to pull back the US from war.....
March 8, 2014
Alex Berenson's singular talent, ably demonstrated in the previous 7 John Wells novels, is the ability to build up a convincing world scenario. From the Arabian peninsula, to the jungles of Africa, Berenson is able to find a new story that rings true and believable. Then Wells is cast out there to use his talents, smarts, spycraft and muscular violence to winnow out the truth. Like the real world, John Wells does not always succeed. There are losses of life and of innocence. Berenson, however, seems to have a handle on the world's hot spots and can ably write about Muslims in Arabia, pirates in Africa or a girl with a reed thin voice trying to survive in South America.
The buildup in "The Counterfeit Agent" is very impressive. Berenson outdoes himself in putting together a convincing conspiracy. An unknown ruthless female agent has purchased weapon grade material for a bomb. She has hired a rouge ex spy and put together a hit squad. An America spy in Istanbul, Brian Taylor, has been approached by a Reza, a mysterious Irani, with secrets to tell about his country's plans against America, and the secrets Reza spills are coming true. Could Iran really be thinking of attacking the United States?
Wells, who frets about his now 40 year old body, taking extra time on the shooting range, and doing the kind of exercising that the rest of us dream about, needs a respite from real life. He has proposed to his girlfriend, but she wants him to give up the spy life and gives him 30 days to figure out what he wants.
Enter Vinny Duto, the ex head of the CIA, who is now a Senator. Duto has learned from an old contact in South America that someone is targeting a CIA Station Chief for assassination. He and Ellis Shafer, who is still at the CIA, dispatch Wells to see if the plot is real and the hunt is on.
There is one great scene near the end of the novel where Wells must use every bit of his wits and muscles to extract himself from a tough situation, but the end of the novel ends on a cliffhanger, with America poised on the doorstep of war and a major player unmasked in an "aha" moment, without much in the way of setup. It is the type of neat solution that is the hallmark of a lazy writer, not one of the scope of Berenson, and detracts from the overall story.
The "Counterfeit Agent" is a good book, but not among Berenson's best.
The buildup in "The Counterfeit Agent" is very impressive. Berenson outdoes himself in putting together a convincing conspiracy. An unknown ruthless female agent has purchased weapon grade material for a bomb. She has hired a rouge ex spy and put together a hit squad. An America spy in Istanbul, Brian Taylor, has been approached by a Reza, a mysterious Irani, with secrets to tell about his country's plans against America, and the secrets Reza spills are coming true. Could Iran really be thinking of attacking the United States?
Wells, who frets about his now 40 year old body, taking extra time on the shooting range, and doing the kind of exercising that the rest of us dream about, needs a respite from real life. He has proposed to his girlfriend, but she wants him to give up the spy life and gives him 30 days to figure out what he wants.
Enter Vinny Duto, the ex head of the CIA, who is now a Senator. Duto has learned from an old contact in South America that someone is targeting a CIA Station Chief for assassination. He and Ellis Shafer, who is still at the CIA, dispatch Wells to see if the plot is real and the hunt is on.
There is one great scene near the end of the novel where Wells must use every bit of his wits and muscles to extract himself from a tough situation, but the end of the novel ends on a cliffhanger, with America poised on the doorstep of war and a major player unmasked in an "aha" moment, without much in the way of setup. It is the type of neat solution that is the hallmark of a lazy writer, not one of the scope of Berenson, and detracts from the overall story.
The "Counterfeit Agent" is a good book, but not among Berenson's best.
February 23, 2014
The woman is called Salome. Flying into Johannesburg, South Africa, she is there to arrange for a sale of Uranium-235. Working for a secret agency that no one knows exists, Salome understands her mission; the purpose of getting the U-235 is to trick the American government into bombing Iran. And that’s just the first plot gift from this incredible author.
John Wells works for the CIA, another secret bunch of folks who slither around in the dark. Currently on a cruise with his significant other, he is about to propose marriage when his girlfriend makes a counteroffer: Stop working for the CIA or the romance is over. Sadly for Mr. Wells’ love life, Vincent Duto, who recently left his post as CIA Director to take a seat in the U.S. Senate, calls precisely at this awkward moment to send John out on assignment. Apparently the CIA has gotten a tip that there will be an attack on a Station Chief, and Iran is the location at the top of his list.
Not only does the attack happen, but this anonymous tipster moves on to state that Iran is about to smuggle nuclear materials into the United States. This is kind of hard to believe, but John is picked to look into the information to see if it’s legitimate.
Wells finds himself out there on his own, which is usual, facing problem after problem and attempting to get to the truth. A one-man army, he must get in and out of locations and situations that would cause any normal detective, agent, or other various spy to quit the ‘job’ immediately. But as the action progresses and secrets are uncovered about everything from what goes on at Langley to a woman who’s definitely an intellectual equal to Wells, the story provides thrill after thrill.
Although there is a series featuring the incredible John Wells, this book definitely stands alone. Every once in a while a book will come along that is so good it can’t be put down; this is that book!
John Wells works for the CIA, another secret bunch of folks who slither around in the dark. Currently on a cruise with his significant other, he is about to propose marriage when his girlfriend makes a counteroffer: Stop working for the CIA or the romance is over. Sadly for Mr. Wells’ love life, Vincent Duto, who recently left his post as CIA Director to take a seat in the U.S. Senate, calls precisely at this awkward moment to send John out on assignment. Apparently the CIA has gotten a tip that there will be an attack on a Station Chief, and Iran is the location at the top of his list.
Not only does the attack happen, but this anonymous tipster moves on to state that Iran is about to smuggle nuclear materials into the United States. This is kind of hard to believe, but John is picked to look into the information to see if it’s legitimate.
Wells finds himself out there on his own, which is usual, facing problem after problem and attempting to get to the truth. A one-man army, he must get in and out of locations and situations that would cause any normal detective, agent, or other various spy to quit the ‘job’ immediately. But as the action progresses and secrets are uncovered about everything from what goes on at Langley to a woman who’s definitely an intellectual equal to Wells, the story provides thrill after thrill.
Although there is a series featuring the incredible John Wells, this book definitely stands alone. Every once in a while a book will come along that is so good it can’t be put down; this is that book!
September 17, 2014
This was my first John Wells novel, he being the violent but effective spy and protagonist. And like other readers who weighed in on Berenson's website, there is some confusion at the end of this book, because it wraps up with several unresolved issues, making it feel like a sequel has to come along.
But even if there isn't a followup, this was an enjoyable ride. We learn early on that a woman of unknown origin is collecting nuclear weapons grade material as part of some deep project she is working on, and later, that she recruits a disgraced CIA operative to be her heavy lifter. In the meantime, an Iranian who won't give his identity starts to leak details of upcoming attacks on embassies and people, and when they come true, the American government goes into overdrive, thinking it's a plot by Iran and that Iran has gotten much further developing a nuclear weapon than it had believed.
John Wells is recruited to look into this freelance by the ex-CIA director, now a senator, and an old friend in the agency, and it is his dogged persistence that will eventually crack the case -- although, with the up in the air ending, it's not certain what the resolution will be.
Berenson is a master at plotting, his characters seems believable, and Wells is just reckless enough that he doesn't seem completely invincible. If there is a sequel, I'll probably grab it.
February 27, 2014
Until the end game, Berenson could have written this same novel without using the Wells character and still had a hell of a book.
Duto, the former head of the CIA, is now a senator. Ellis Schaeffer, Wells' friend and former handler from the CIA, is showing his age. The three of them are trying to find a former CIA agent gone rogue and working a false flag attempt at creating a war between Iran and the U.S.
It's the first Wells novel that I can remember having an ending indicating there is more to follow. Using Berenson's normal gap between books, I won't get an answer for another year.
Duto, the former head of the CIA, is now a senator. Ellis Schaeffer, Wells' friend and former handler from the CIA, is showing his age. The three of them are trying to find a former CIA agent gone rogue and working a false flag attempt at creating a war between Iran and the U.S.
It's the first Wells novel that I can remember having an ending indicating there is more to follow. Using Berenson's normal gap between books, I won't get an answer for another year.
May 11, 2014
Fun read and unrelenting actions. The story moves at lightning speed with bodies falling every now and then. John Wells is faced with a conundrum in his personal life yet he takes up a very difficult assignment.
May 10, 2014
Berenson has written another well-researched, high-action thriller. The relationship twists feel real and there is the clear promise of a sequel.
One of the things I most enjoy about Berenson's books is the consistent excellence of his plots and dialogue.
One of the things I most enjoy about Berenson's books is the consistent excellence of his plots and dialogue.
January 18, 2025
3.75 stars, another great Wells story.
October 28, 2023
Six-word Review: A couldn't put it down thriller.
Berenson knows how to turn up the suspense and the danger.
The story opens with a prologue introducing us to a woman whose code name is Salome closing a deal for some enriched uranium. Chapter One takes place on a cruise ship where John Wells is surprised by the reaction of his live-in girlfriend Sally to his proposal of marriage. In Chapter Three we are introduced to a key player, CIA agent Brian Taylor.
Later we meet Glen Mason, also a CIA agent who struggles with his identity and who becomes a traitor and a serious problem for Wells. Wells loses his CIA connection as the ex-DCI Victor Duto is now a Senator and Ellis Shafer, his protector, has lost his clout.
Wells now a counterfeit agent, pursues clues to prove or disprove that an Iranian plot is true or false. The story unfolds from there with more than its share of close calls and blind alleys. Though we eventually know who's behind the plot, Wells can't prove anything. The ending leaves the reader up in the air as the U.S. prepares to go to war with Iran.
I imagine the next book in the John Wells series, Twelve Days, picks up from there. I plan to read it soon.
Berenson knows how to turn up the suspense and the danger.
The story opens with a prologue introducing us to a woman whose code name is Salome closing a deal for some enriched uranium. Chapter One takes place on a cruise ship where John Wells is surprised by the reaction of his live-in girlfriend Sally to his proposal of marriage. In Chapter Three we are introduced to a key player, CIA agent Brian Taylor.
Later we meet Glen Mason, also a CIA agent who struggles with his identity and who becomes a traitor and a serious problem for Wells. Wells loses his CIA connection as the ex-DCI Victor Duto is now a Senator and Ellis Shafer, his protector, has lost his clout.
Wells now a counterfeit agent, pursues clues to prove or disprove that an Iranian plot is true or false. The story unfolds from there with more than its share of close calls and blind alleys. Though we eventually know who's behind the plot, Wells can't prove anything. The ending leaves the reader up in the air as the U.S. prepares to go to war with Iran.
I imagine the next book in the John Wells series, Twelve Days, picks up from there. I plan to read it soon.
July 24, 2018
Look, I am going to read all the John Wells books because I love action and espionage. This one took way too long to develop. I was forced to read about these characters all over the place plotting something evil with only a little bit of our hero, John Wells, until the second half of the book. There were chapters that limped along because I didn't care, and there were others that were easy to picture in my mind because THINGS WERE HAPPENING! Middle of the road read; three stars all the way.
February 21, 2023
Not only does Alex Berenson provide America an alternative to the preferred narrative of the pandemic vaccine and it's outcomes, but he can also produce a great geopolitical thriller...Super SpecOp agent John Wells and his allies are hard at work trying to prevent WWIII that seems bolstered by someone creating a false flag operation enticing the US into a war with Iran...A fun page-turner, but its only part one of what looks to be a two-part thriller...ARrrrrgh!!!
January 16, 2016
It's not like I go out of my way to dislike a book. If you take a look of the books I've been reading the past few years, the majority have been 2-star or 3-star ratings. This is an issue.
After a quick thought, literally just this second, I asked myself what do I love in a book. It comes down to three things:
1). character
2). plot
3). writing
I usually like tragic characters. I'm sure you can do a whole psychological profile on me based on that. Which should be no surprise when I say that I found Glenn Mason to be the most interesting character and the most I wanted to read about. This emotional, yet on-the-verge-of-being-a-psychopath, (is that possible?), was the most dynamic character. His ladylove's version of events was pretty chilling, especially when compared to his version of events.
It was a surprise to me when I saw that this was a "John Wells" book. Uh, who??
John Wells was the dullest character. Maybe not dullest - no. The most typical agent character there could be. He's badass, but he's getting old, he's undecided whether he wants to continue his job or settle down with his pick of the month . . .
There are plenty of dull characters in this book. Many did not need to be in this book. Like the President. Or at least his view points. It was excessive and unnecessary.
Salome is cool. I love a femme-fatale. But each time I saw her name, I kept thinking of True Blood's Salome. That's not anyone's fault. They're pretty similar in character, though.
I'm flexible with plot if it has either good characters, or great writing. On it's own, it has to be either intricate, fast-paced, or unexpected, or some combination, for me to really like it. The plot of this book was relatively simple: an unknown person or group of persons is trying to cause unnecessary shit to happen in the world, and it's up to everyone else to figure it out. This is fine.
I love lyrical or poetic writing. Obviously in action-novel? like this, what matters more are characters and plot. Because there were so many (of the same) characters to consider, and because the plot was so simple, it felt as though I was reading the same chapters over and over again. It just dragged on, and I found myself wishing I could skip useless sections before I read them and found out they were useless (e.g. the President's speech thing).
I didn't like how in the beginning of the book we are introduced to each new character in each new chapter for like, 8 chapters. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but it gave me the same vibes when I started to read The Hobbit for the first time and I was put off with the thought that I had to remember all of the dwarves' names and what color caps they wore. Honestly, they all blended into one another.
I forgot that this was book #8. This is the first "John Wells" book I've read, so don't take what I said too seriously.
After a quick thought, literally just this second, I asked myself what do I love in a book. It comes down to three things:
1). character
2). plot
3). writing
I usually like tragic characters. I'm sure you can do a whole psychological profile on me based on that. Which should be no surprise when I say that I found Glenn Mason to be the most interesting character and the most I wanted to read about. This emotional, yet on-the-verge-of-being-a-psychopath, (is that possible?), was the most dynamic character. His ladylove's version of events was pretty chilling, especially when compared to his version of events.
It was a surprise to me when I saw that this was a "John Wells" book. Uh, who??
John Wells was the dullest character. Maybe not dullest - no. The most typical agent character there could be. He's badass, but he's getting old, he's undecided whether he wants to continue his job or settle down with his pick of the month . . .
There are plenty of dull characters in this book. Many did not need to be in this book. Like the President. Or at least his view points. It was excessive and unnecessary.
Salome is cool. I love a femme-fatale. But each time I saw her name, I kept thinking of True Blood's Salome. That's not anyone's fault. They're pretty similar in character, though.
I'm flexible with plot if it has either good characters, or great writing. On it's own, it has to be either intricate, fast-paced, or unexpected, or some combination, for me to really like it. The plot of this book was relatively simple: an unknown person or group of persons is trying to cause unnecessary shit to happen in the world, and it's up to everyone else to figure it out. This is fine.
I love lyrical or poetic writing. Obviously in action-novel? like this, what matters more are characters and plot. Because there were so many (of the same) characters to consider, and because the plot was so simple, it felt as though I was reading the same chapters over and over again. It just dragged on, and I found myself wishing I could skip useless sections before I read them and found out they were useless (e.g. the President's speech thing).
I didn't like how in the beginning of the book we are introduced to each new character in each new chapter for like, 8 chapters. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but it gave me the same vibes when I started to read The Hobbit for the first time and I was put off with the thought that I had to remember all of the dwarves' names and what color caps they wore. Honestly, they all blended into one another.
I forgot that this was book #8. This is the first "John Wells" book I've read, so don't take what I said too seriously.
October 17, 2018
It was a decently written book and the action was pretty good. I'm not sure why I never really connected and found this book exciting but I was missing something. It's an entertaining and complex tale but I'm not wowed by it.
July 8, 2014
Berenson seems to get better with each novel, and this one is no exception. Without giving the plot away – and it’s really a good one – a person who is purportedly part of the Iranian “Revolutionary Guard” approaches a CIA veteran in Istanbul and tells him first that two embassies will be bombed and, later, that a CIA station chief will be murdered soon. After those things happen, he leaks that Highly Enriched Uranium is on a ship bound for the U.S., and when that is verified, war with Iran is imminent (as the people behind the informant intend).
Meanwhile, John Wells travels the world and uses his intellect and brute strength to piece together the plot, only to find that his ally at Langley – namely, Ellis Shafer, who no longer has the clout from being in the pocket of Vinny Duto, who has now moved on to the U.S. Senate – can’t do much to stop the war machine from action against Iran. And, in the end, Wells’ own life is imperiled as he may have finally met his match in U.S.-trained foes who are as wily as he is!
The hardest part of this book is that the end doesn’t neatly wrap everything up, and now I’m anxious for the next release from Berenson, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Now that the stories don’t focus on his criticisms of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s much more enjoyable. I am not very patient in waiting for sequels, so I hope the next volume arrives quickly!
Along those lines, my primary criticism of this book is that the President of the United States is a strong, forceful Commander-in-Chief who takes a strong stance for military action (wrongly, as it turns out, because of the false intelligence, but justifiable because of his duty to protect the American people). One can’t help but notice that the current occupant of the White House, who has run away from decisive action in Egypt, Libya, Syria, the Sudan, Nigeria (where a Twitter hashtag is supposed to solve a mass kidnapping?), Ukraine, and squandered all of the sacrifices made in Iraq and Afghanistan, would never be so strong in the face of danger to the United States. One can only hope that in 2016, such a POTUS will again be in command!
Meanwhile, John Wells travels the world and uses his intellect and brute strength to piece together the plot, only to find that his ally at Langley – namely, Ellis Shafer, who no longer has the clout from being in the pocket of Vinny Duto, who has now moved on to the U.S. Senate – can’t do much to stop the war machine from action against Iran. And, in the end, Wells’ own life is imperiled as he may have finally met his match in U.S.-trained foes who are as wily as he is!
The hardest part of this book is that the end doesn’t neatly wrap everything up, and now I’m anxious for the next release from Berenson, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Now that the stories don’t focus on his criticisms of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s much more enjoyable. I am not very patient in waiting for sequels, so I hope the next volume arrives quickly!
Along those lines, my primary criticism of this book is that the President of the United States is a strong, forceful Commander-in-Chief who takes a strong stance for military action (wrongly, as it turns out, because of the false intelligence, but justifiable because of his duty to protect the American people). One can’t help but notice that the current occupant of the White House, who has run away from decisive action in Egypt, Libya, Syria, the Sudan, Nigeria (where a Twitter hashtag is supposed to solve a mass kidnapping?), Ukraine, and squandered all of the sacrifices made in Iraq and Afghanistan, would never be so strong in the face of danger to the United States. One can only hope that in 2016, such a POTUS will again be in command!
February 3, 2014
The John Wells books get better every time out, and Alex Berenson has done it again with the latest book, The Counterfeit Agent. The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been in this installment, with an apparent nuclear threat from Iran and events escalating to a possible all-out war between the United States and Iran. While Wells has never faced a more critical mission, the influence of his allies at the CIA, Shafer and former director, (now Senator) Duto may be at an all-time low.
The mechanics of how you can manipulate an entire government are both fascinating and frightening. The subtle ways to push people towards believing what they are already inclined to believe and the momentum that certain courses of events take once they’ve started makes for incredible reading.
John Wells is one of my favorite characters. He’s smart, tough as nails, and incredibly resourceful. His weaknesses and self-awareness are what make him stand out from other action heroes. There is acknowledgement that with age his physical skills decline and there is further awareness that his own nature makes him prone to take action where prudence may serve him better. Furthermore, there are consequences to his actions that must be overcome.
Berenson’s attention to the secondary characters, both allies and his adversaries, add realism and excitement to the story. The plot is intricate, but all too realistic. The details of intelligence gathering, the resourcefulness and the guesswork, are fascinating. The Counterfeit Agent races across the world from Istanbul to Guatemala to Hong Kong and Thailand. The tension and the excitement ratchet up throughout.
This book builds to an exciting and satisfying conclusion, but it leaves the ultimate resolution to a sequel. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. This may be the most exciting John Wells story yet. A good book leaves you wanting more. A great one leaves you needing more. I need more John Wells. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
The mechanics of how you can manipulate an entire government are both fascinating and frightening. The subtle ways to push people towards believing what they are already inclined to believe and the momentum that certain courses of events take once they’ve started makes for incredible reading.
John Wells is one of my favorite characters. He’s smart, tough as nails, and incredibly resourceful. His weaknesses and self-awareness are what make him stand out from other action heroes. There is acknowledgement that with age his physical skills decline and there is further awareness that his own nature makes him prone to take action where prudence may serve him better. Furthermore, there are consequences to his actions that must be overcome.
Berenson’s attention to the secondary characters, both allies and his adversaries, add realism and excitement to the story. The plot is intricate, but all too realistic. The details of intelligence gathering, the resourcefulness and the guesswork, are fascinating. The Counterfeit Agent races across the world from Istanbul to Guatemala to Hong Kong and Thailand. The tension and the excitement ratchet up throughout.
This book builds to an exciting and satisfying conclusion, but it leaves the ultimate resolution to a sequel. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. This may be the most exciting John Wells story yet. A good book leaves you wanting more. A great one leaves you needing more. I need more John Wells. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
March 8, 2014
When I received this book in return for writing an honest review, I couldn't wait to get into the story and enjoy another exciting ride through intrigue and suspense that the author has provided in the past.
The story begins with a mysterious woman going by the name Salome. She's dealing with a man with nuclear weapons for sale.
John Wells is an operative who admits to getting older. He's putting on weight and not as fast as he used to be. He's thinking of asking for an assignment at the CIA training facility so he wouldn't have so much travel or danger.
Wells asks his girlfriend Anne, to marry him but she wants a family and for him to be there to help raise the children. She tells him that if he wants to marry her he'd have to resign from his job and gives him 30 days to decide.
Meanwhile, a CIA caseworker, Glen Mason, was a high riser who got fired after excessive gambling, missed days at work and a conflict with another agent over the girl Glen was sleeping with. He's contacted by Salome who wants him as her operations manager. The job pays well but he couldn't return to America. She tells him that her company deals with assassinations and industrial espionage. He accepts her offer.
There is a plot to assassinate a CIA station chief and Wells is sent to find out who is behind it and stop the threat.
I enjoyed the story and manner in which Bereson built the suspense which kept me on the edge of my seat. I turned pages eagerly, waiting to learn the direction of the action.
The setting is well described as Wells travels to Istanbul, Guatemala and Hong Kong and other exotic locations. There was a good conclusion but enough unanswered questions to leave room for a sequel.
The story begins with a mysterious woman going by the name Salome. She's dealing with a man with nuclear weapons for sale.
John Wells is an operative who admits to getting older. He's putting on weight and not as fast as he used to be. He's thinking of asking for an assignment at the CIA training facility so he wouldn't have so much travel or danger.
Wells asks his girlfriend Anne, to marry him but she wants a family and for him to be there to help raise the children. She tells him that if he wants to marry her he'd have to resign from his job and gives him 30 days to decide.
Meanwhile, a CIA caseworker, Glen Mason, was a high riser who got fired after excessive gambling, missed days at work and a conflict with another agent over the girl Glen was sleeping with. He's contacted by Salome who wants him as her operations manager. The job pays well but he couldn't return to America. She tells him that her company deals with assassinations and industrial espionage. He accepts her offer.
There is a plot to assassinate a CIA station chief and Wells is sent to find out who is behind it and stop the threat.
I enjoyed the story and manner in which Bereson built the suspense which kept me on the edge of my seat. I turned pages eagerly, waiting to learn the direction of the action.
The setting is well described as Wells travels to Istanbul, Guatemala and Hong Kong and other exotic locations. There was a good conclusion but enough unanswered questions to leave room for a sequel.
December 27, 2013
Berenson's latest book doesn't disappoint to deliver the typical great character development that I've come to love in his writing. The stories and plots serve as vehicles for the John Wells character's growth, as opposed to a typical spy/thriller-of-the-week. But this book is so quick, if you're not familiar with the other books, you might not get an idea of the depth of the main character, John Wells.
Perhaps a spoiler here. I won't write up a synopsis of the book, as that's why the cover blurb exists.
I love this author's stories, but this book seems to set a larger stage for a sequel, unless the advance copy I received was missing a last chapter.
The epilogue quickly (perhaps too quickly) wraps up some tense page-turning action and sets the table for a follow-up book.
In fact, as I was reading this electronically, I was worried that something got left out of the story! Score another vote for paper editions!
Totally enjoyable story, although it seems that the book could have been twice as long, and perhaps the editors decided to split this into two books.
Well, one can hope for a 2nd release in 2014, as I enjoyed the book, but felt like there was no true resolution. If this is your first experience with the author, I'd suggest to acquaint yourself with a few books before wolfing down this one.
Perhaps a spoiler here. I won't write up a synopsis of the book, as that's why the cover blurb exists.
I love this author's stories, but this book seems to set a larger stage for a sequel, unless the advance copy I received was missing a last chapter.
The epilogue quickly (perhaps too quickly) wraps up some tense page-turning action and sets the table for a follow-up book.
In fact, as I was reading this electronically, I was worried that something got left out of the story! Score another vote for paper editions!
Totally enjoyable story, although it seems that the book could have been twice as long, and perhaps the editors decided to split this into two books.
Well, one can hope for a 2nd release in 2014, as I enjoyed the book, but felt like there was no true resolution. If this is your first experience with the author, I'd suggest to acquaint yourself with a few books before wolfing down this one.
July 17, 2014
I was impressed by Berenson's John Wells character in the first book in this series but found this novel (#8 in the Wells series) a little disappointing. Someone is attempting to convince the US that Iran's nuclear development is much farther along than previously thought. They go through elaborate shenanagins to trick US intelligence agencies into believing that Iran is ready to detonate small bombs in the US. John Wells is tasked by his former bosses with finding out if the so-called Iranian "source" is credible. In the process of pursuing this he discovers a former CIA agent has gone rogue and suspects that he is helping to orchestrate this frame of Iran. Wells gets the s**t kicked out of him several times but manages to survive to feed the insight he has obtained to his bosses. But it arrives too late to stop the issuance of an ultimatum by the President- demolish your nuclear program in 12 days or we will do it for you with nuclear strikes.
Part of the reason this feels unsatisfactory is that it seems to be part of a longer story which is terminated at a convenient point to allow for a sequel.
Part of the reason this feels unsatisfactory is that it seems to be part of a longer story which is terminated at a convenient point to allow for a sequel.
March 5, 2014
Alex Berenson and his main series' character, John Wells, never let you down--a well-written story, lots of action, and in this case, an intriguing setting in Istanbul. I've consistently rated Berenson's novels with 4 or 5 stars, but in this one he falls into the publisher's deadly trap of "not ending" the story, but leaving the reader hanging until the next book. Very irritating...I have ceased reading some authors due to this tactic, but Berenson deserves another chance due to the hours of reading pleasure he has given us over the years.
February 17, 2014
A CIA agent in Istanbul is contacted by someone claiming to be an Iranian Revolutionary Guard, whose intel about embassy bombings, an assassination, and the smuggling of highly enriched uranium all prove true to establish his credentials. He then advises that Iran's nuclear program is far more advanced than previously suspected, and that bombs will be assembled in the U.S. to prevent invasion. Former head of the CIA, now Senator Vinny Duto enlists Ellis Schaefer and operative John Wells to see if the threat is real. Berenson has written another suspenseful thriller.
September 10, 2016
This is a really creative tale of espionage with a disappointing cliffhanger ending. It is fair to say that several major loose threads remain open at the end of the book, signaling those dreaded words, "to be continued". Call me old fashioned, but unless a novel is clearly created in two parts (SHOGUN, for instance), the major plotlines simply must be resolved before the author runs out of steam. Here, it's like the writer had 350 pages down, ran out of ink, and simply sent the manuscript off to his publisher. I'll read the next installment. Grudgingly.
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