Overwatch

by Marc Guggenheim

In this gripping thriller, a young CIA lawyer uncovers a dangerous worldwide conspiracy, masterminded by forces within the US intelligence community.

Alex Garnett has spent his life in the shadow of his father, a former Chief of Staff and Solicitor General to two presidents who's been responsible for getting Alex every job he ever had, including his attorney for the CIA. However, a seemingly routine litigation leads to a series of unexpected events, including poison, kidnapping, torture and murder. As casualties pile up, it becomes clear Alex is the final target in someone's blood-soaked attempts to cover their tracks.

With the help of a neurotic hacker, Alex unravels a conspiracy older than the CIA itself. The trail of clues reveals the presence of unseen forces that are bringing this nation to the brink of war -- and Alex's life is only one of many in danger.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Legal, Suspense

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Marc Guggenheim grew up on Long Island, New York, and earned his law degree from Boston University. After over four years in practice, he left law to pursue a career in television.

Today, Guggenheim is an Emmy Award–winning writer who writes for multiple mediums including television, film, video games, comic books, and new media. His work includes projects for such popular franchises as Percy Jackson, Star Wars, Call of Duty, Star Trek, and Planet of the Apes.

His next book, In Any Lifetime, coming from Lake Union Publishing on August 1st.

Guggenheim currently lives in Encino, California, with his wife, two daughters, and a handful of pets.

Keep up to date on his latest projects with LegalDispatch, a weekly newsletter where he shares news and notes about writing, comics, and the entertainment industry.

Reviews

[Pinky AndThe Brain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this copy as a giveaway on Goodreads. I can best describe this book as Tom Clancey meets John Grisham; a legal thriller that goes beyond the normal bounds of the genre, incorporating espionage and conspiracy.

It's very faced paced, and edge of your seat - reminiscent of the constant tension so elegantly developed in the first two seasons of 24.

An excellent read, I would highly recommend Overwatch for anyone who enjoys espionage, conspiracy theory, and legal thrillers.

[Blood Rose Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The name Marc Guggenheim is probably known more for his writing for both Marvel and DC comics, but he has made the jump to novel writing with his debut with a young CIA lawyer who doesn't know when to stop asking questions:

Being an attorney for the CIA is a dream job for Alex Garnett and he does not want to do anything to screw it up, but the CIA maybe should have done some additional tests on Alex as he is someone who doesn't mind research and when something piques his interests he doesn't let it go. When a routine litigation case leads to anything but routine, also known as murders, Alex's quests to figure out the truth heightens and he cannot let it go even when told by his superiors. As the body count begins to climb, Alex knows it is only a small amount of time before he joins the dead. He needs to find out all the information he can and expose those responsible or not only will he be dead but the World is going to enter into another war.

For a debut novel Guggenheim did the action adventure/thriller genres justice. This book is a good fast paced read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There were times that it was hard to find a spot to stop. I found the plot really interesting as I am always a fan of corruption at the highest points of government and how those people justify their actions. Within Overwatch, these people do not believe that they need someone to oversee their actions, that having an someone watch over the CIA actually just gets in the way of getting everything done. They do what they think is right for the USA and do the jobs they think the government should take, especially the wet work ones. Did Guggenheim do anything different or anything new to the genre, No; but the aspects of a secret society within the federal government and the CIA were interesting and really well done. You never really know how high up the chain the corruption has taken place.

The main character is a lucky SOB. I don't think I have read a book where the main character was this Lucky, but he acknowledges this aspect and really even questions himself how he is still alive. I really enjoyed Alex's mind and his ideas as an attorney instead of a hard trained military type as this added a different flavour to the book, and different thought process. I think the attorney mind that Alex has is what gets him into trouble as he is always questioning things and really not wanting to let things go as well as see connections that others would have not. To say that Alex is tenacious is an understatement; he is persistent to the point of annoying someone and is not afraid to put his job on the line if it means getting the result he wants.

Although this is the first full length novel by Guggenheim, you can tell by the plot and story that Guggenheim has been writing in some form for a long time. He knows the ways to get a reader interested and keep them that way throughout the book. A very successful debut by Guggenheim and I would read another book by him.

Enjoy!!!

[Russell Goulet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. A wonderful book filled with suspense and intrigue. Each chapter brought an unforeseen twist or turn and this kept me guessing about the final solution right up until the very end. I found it hard to put the book down and had to pull myself away at times. Marc Guggenheim's writing drew me in deeper and deeper into the story until I felt a connection to the characters. The book was part of the Goodreads Firstreads offering and it turned out to be better than expected.

[Jakob Gransee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re so back. After a full work day on a computer, I knew I couldn’t maintain my love of movies and TV shows. Occasionally sure, but it’s been a strain on the eyes and mind.

This past week or so has been illuminating. Coming home, turning off the phone, reading a book, and diving into a world that isn’t my own has been a pleasure.

Onto the book:

Fun, different, characters you like (main especially so). Really like how we jumped all around. Different perspectives - different angles. Read the epilogue, so I learned the book is the authors first; Different considering I did Dune, then finished Hunger Games. I got comfortable with their styles, this one was new. Alex is smart, charming, and lucky. Far different from what Dune turned into, slightly similar to Haymitch and Snow depending on what you consider luck.

Action, action, action, climax. Pretty much acceptable build for any circumstance. Fun read.


X


Lots of 4 stars but I haven’t read many books in the past decade so we’re learning. This one earned the 4 cause I got it from one of those public library things. Not because that’s where I got it but because on like page 6 I think there was a booger. I think there were a lot of boogers in that book that I carefully avoided. There were also remnants of at least 2 meals. One being spaghetti n balls and the other something with a yellowish sauce (think like a scampi type sauce but yellow(also I’m colorblind so maybe not (I’ve decided to toss the book no matter what))). Truly captivating considering how gross it was.

Cannot wait to stop going out and just read 3 books a weeks. Life changing stuff here. Onto the next.

[Shannon Recktenwald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like reading Designated Survivor in a book! And I loved it. The absolute suspense and cliffhangers made this one a page turner that I read in about two days. And I'm always a sucker for political/DC content. It kind of felt like maybe some things weren't entirely resolved at the end, or maybe I just missed the details somewhere? Anyway, I loved the suspense while reading this one.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book it was different but the author pulled it off. It was like sandwiching a legal thriller and and a spy thriller together. It had both elements in equal measures I didn’t find anything lacking in the recipe. Definitely worth the read!

[Lois Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zips along. Solid thriller.

[Rob Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read. Some unfinished aspects towards the end but otherwise entertaining.

[Charles Eldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Good characters and lots of action. Plays out logically. Felt like a really good movie. If you enjoy Netflix’s new show “The Recruit” this will be right in your wheelhouse.

[Koen Chevalier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recensie voor www.hebban.nl/crimezone : Dekkingsvuur - Marc Guggenheim

Marc Guggenheim (Long Island, 1970) is een voormalig advocaat die de laatste jaren voornamelijk actief is in de film- en televisiewereld. Als producent en/of scenarist werkte hij onder andere mee aan series als ‘The Practice’, ‘Law & Order’, ‘CSI:Miami’ en ‘In Justice’. Verder leverde hij een bijdrage aan Marvel stripverhalen als ’X-men’ en ‘The Amazing Spider-man’ en was hij scriptschrijver voor het videospel ‘X-men Origins: Wolverine’. Met Dekkingsvuur maakt hij nu zijn debuut als thrillerauteur.

In Dekkingsvuur maken we kennis met Alex Garnett, een jonge ambitieuze advocaat die aan de slag kan bij de CIA. Tijdens een ogenschijnlijk eenvoudige echtscheidingsprocedure wordt hij er door de advocate van de tegenpartij op gewezen dat de bankafschriften van zijn cliënt een aantal wel heel vreemde transacties vertonen en ontstaat bij Garnett een vermoeden van corruptie. Wanneer enige tijd later zowel zijn cliënt als de advocate in verdachte omstandigheden om het leven komt, besluit Garnett samen met Gerald Jankovick - een bevriend hacker binnen de CIA - op onderzoek uit te gaan. Langzaam maar zeker komen ze op het spoor van een geheime samenzwering die er middels destabilisatie op uit lijkt te zijn een nieuwe oorlog te ontketenen. Dat de samenzweerders voor niets terugdeinzen is duidelijk, en met gevaar voor eigen leven gaan Garnett en Jonkovick de strijd tegen de klok aan …

Held gaat strijd aan tegen het kwaad … Ondanks dit niet meteen meest originele uitgangspunt gaat Dekkingsvuur veelbelovend van start met een proloog waarin de ervaring van Guggenheim als scenarist onmiddellijk duidelijk wordt. Op beeldende wijze schetst hij een explosieve militaire interventie in Iran en plaatst zo de lezer als het ware midden in de actie. Heel knap, ware het niet dat dit niveau niet consequent wordt volgehouden en de lezer bij momenten alle voeling met het verhaal dreigt te verliezen.

Het is niet dat het verhaal over geen enkel potentieel beschikt, maar de uitwerking is te mager. Op heel lineaire wijze wordt er naar een ontknoping toegewerkt, waarbij er geen enkel risico wordt genomen. De verhaallijnen blijven vlak en voorspelbaar, de personages oppervlakkig en ongeloofwaardig. Samenhang tussen de gebeurtenissen in Iran en de belevenissen van Alex in de Verenigde staten is ver te zoeken, waardoor beide soms los van elkaar lijken te staan. Het feit dat je als lezer onmiddellijk weet welke rol de verschillende personages in het verhaal spelen, maakt enig denkwerk overbodig en het is dan ook enkel afwachten hoe en wanneer Alex de waarheid zal achterhalen.

De beloofde ‘hersens van een rechtbankdrama en de paranoia van een samenzweringsfilm’ blijven grotendeels achterwege en blijken niet meer te zijn dan een kader waarrond het verhaal is opgebouwd. Wat rest is een doorsnee thriller waarbij voornamelijk de actiescènes garant staan voor enig leesplezier. Een cliffhanger op het einde maakt de weg vrij voor een eventueel vervolg, al is het de vraag of de lezer daar echt op zit te wachten. Een middelmatig tussendoortje, niets meer, niets minder.

[Vicki Elia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook Review
2 Stars

Overwatch was one of the stupidest books I've read so far this year. A 36 year-old public defender with daddy issues uncovers a mega conspiracy founded by Truman to control the the world. Alex Garnett, the protagonist, goes to work for the Office of General Council at the CIA, compliments of his dad, the former White House Chief of staff. This in itself is pretty mind-boggling, considering his prior jobs all blew up including his last one as a Public Defender. He has a beautiful, intelligent fiance, a fabulous condo, a slick car, all compliments of the father he refuses to see. After just days at the CIA, Alex manages to take down the blackest of black ops with the help of a geeky hacker. Bodies start piling up all over, including in Alex's car. Iran has built a nuclear weapon and is on the brink of nuking Israel and anybody else @ their whim.

In the finale, Alex manages to live through a shoot out with THE bad guy and save the day.

There isn't a plot per se. There are stories that kind of co-exist. The characters are card-board cut-outs. There is no espionage. There are no thrills other than people running around like chickens with their heads cut off, sometimes being murdered, other times just being either the good guy or the bad guy.

By the end, I would have been fine if they would have all died. I am now going to read a REAL spy thriller. For those that rated this book 4 or 5 Stars, please go read something by John Lecarre, then compare.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overwatch by Marc Guggenheim is a first read win and I am giving my honest opinion. I always took for granted that are government performed for the good of humanity. This book makes you shake your head and say, oh my God - what if. This story begins with a public defenders last day on the job before he begins working as an attorney for the CIA. His first case for the CIA is a divorce case Harlan vs Harlan. Mr. Harlan is a spook, a spy. When Mrs Harlan's attorney questions a $90,000.000 deposit and withdrawal, Alex, our CIA attorney pays close attention. He asks Gerald, one of the CIA's geeks or computer pro to further investigate the trail, it leads to a private fund taken from CIA's operational budget. It's a secret organization within the CIA. In the meantime everyone in court for deposition that day is murdered or killed in an accident. Alex is revved up. He tries to dig deeper. Meanwhile in Iran, the supreme leader, a moderate, is slowly dieing from a swine flue hybrid developed by the secret group in the CIA, their name is the Overwatch. They made easy access of plans to make a nuclear weapon for Iran. A mossad agent in Israel id murdered to look like a suicide even with a suicide note. Where does this end? Find the answers in the book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully fast-paced book with twists and turns, I liked the combination of it being a legal and CIA thriller. I really enjoyed the book and hope the author writes a sequel.

A couple of quibbles:

I did find the constant references to Alex's paragon of a father curious given how little information or backstory the reader is given about him. It made me think I'd missed a preceding book, except this was the author's first novel.

Also, for an author of a series on television ('Arrow') known for writing strong female characters, I found most of his female characters in the book weak and under-developed. If this were ever to be made into a movie/series, I'd recast Gerald as female (i.e. Felicity Smoak).

[Read Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a ARC GoodReads giveaway.

It is exciting to read a book yet to be on the market for the public. It makes me feel special. Not that I think this alters my opinion of the story.

Obviously, this was written by someone with a law background. But you can also feel the polished story teller is aptly applying his trade. It has a sort of Three Days of the Condor feel to it. Prepare yourself for a wild ride as our hero finds dead bodies piling up. Soon, he becomes the target of the killers and desperately races to discover the plot to send us all into World War III. It is a well written plot line that develops and keeps you guessing.

I found this story to be a GoodReads.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very likable attorney Alex Garnett goes to work in the legal department of the CIA and uncovers a conspiracy to destabilize the Middle East into war between Israel and Iran. This is a very solid debut thriller in the vein of "Six Days of the Condor" when all parties associated with the conspiracy die of seemingly natural causes. Fast paced action, original the plot lines with well drawn characters are driven by good writing and lethal bad guys in pursuit. I recommend it and hope it might be book one of a series.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is watching the watchers? We all know the CIA is tasked to watch over our country's enemies and to stop those enemies from harming out country. But who falls into the category of "enemy" and what steps and measures should we as a country allow to ferret out these enemies? Part of the job for Alex Garret is to establish legal limits to the actions that the CIA can take. Then, one day, he finds himself suddenly as one of those enemies that the CIA is tasked to protect the USA from. How did this happen? What is going on?
Fast moving thriller and a fun read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political Thriller.
I received an advance paperback copy of Over Watch from a publisher giveaway.
A fast-paced thriller that puts the world on the brink of World War III. Alex Garnett (a well developed character that I hope to see in future novels) is an attorney for the CIA. With a job like that you know it's going to be interesting.
Very believable story with the exception of one thing that I could never see happining but, that would be a major spoiler so, I'll just say great read.
4 stars.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading some serious nonfiction recently I needed a pure entertainment break. Overwatch by Marc Guggenheim was the perfect book: a combination legal thriller and spy page-turner. In the well-told story about a rogue CIA organization that even the President doesn't know about, lawyer Alex Garnett is a believable hero who attempts to expose the Overwatch group, while dodging a lot of bullets in the process.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I really enjoyed most of this book, I felt the end's 'sci-fi'-like scene let it down a bit. It was a very fast-paced story which reminded me of Grisham's The Firm to a certain degree, although there were a few unrealistic aspects where our main character seemed to have a bit too much freedom which Grisham would probably have justified a bit better.

All in all, this was an enjoyable book and very well narrated in the audio version.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. It is filled with twists and turns, including a surprising ending. The plot is permeated with today and today's global challenges.

A good read. I'm assuming a sequel will follow, and I imagine I'll want to follow where Alex's path goes.

Thanks for the opportunity to sample a new author.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nonstop thrill ride. I was hooked very early on and couldn't wait to see how it all played out. Guggenheim was very thorough without overdoing it. The story was pieced together smoothly and in the end I was left completely satisfied.

*I received a copy free of charge for my honest review*

[Freddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Guggenheim crafts a taut thriller while introducing an interesting new character in Alex Garnett. Fast paced and difficult to put down, I was looking forward to each chance I had to read this.

[Tammy Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected ending. I enjoyed it. It really makes you think about what could really be going on that we do not have any idea.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an easy & suspenseful read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, well written and suspense filled