Spy for Hire

Mark Sava #3

by Dan Mayland

A kidnapped orphan triggers an intelligence war in the Middle East, catapulting top-spy Mark Sava into a desperate race against friend and foe alike.

Azerbaijan didn’t want him. And now Kyrgyzstan may not be able to handle Mark Sava either. The ex–CIA station chief has settled into a new, easy life as a spy for hire. But then his girlfriend, Daria, discovers the private intelligence agency employing Sava is connected to a strange plot involving a mysterious orphan.

As Saudi intelligence agents and the CIA seek out the boy for their own ends, Sava and Daria call on old friend and ex–Navy SEAL John Decker to protect the child while they dig for the truth. Soon Sava has a front-row seat to a black ops war between the CIA, US Naval Intelligence, and foreign forces—and the boy is somehow the key to victory. Sava just wants to find the child a good home, but can he do so before his own broken past proves his undoing?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Espionage, Spy Thriller, Action, Suspense

282 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2014

About the author

Dan Mayland is an author and professional geopolitical forecaster, helping nonprofit, private, and government organizations navigate a changing world. His Mark Sava spy series and his latest novel, The Doctor of Aleppo, were informed by his experiences in the Caspian region and Middle East. Raised in New Jersey, Mayland now lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two children, in an old stone farmhouse he and his wife have restored. More information about Dan and his books can be found at danmayland.com.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars *

This was my first experience of Mark Sava, not having read the previous books in the series. This however was no detriment as it was really easy to follow.
It was a good storyline, one that kept my interest right the way through,and I would definitely like to read more in this series.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.

It's a really good book. But I guess you are asking me why I abandoned this book.

The truth is that Spy For Hire was starting to bored me. I was around the 60 percent mark when I started dozing off. Dozing off on a book is a rare occurrence. But when it happens, I know I'm on the way to becoming truly bored. Words become dots on the pages, I read the book without actually reading it.

It's not the characters. Okay, maybe it is the characters. But it's not Mark. Anyway, there are some characters you simply expect to see frequently. But then there are some characters who seem to fall off the face of the earth. Daria, for one example, slowly begins to disappear. I have no idea what happens to her and I don't read her POV for like fifty pages, maybe even more. Mark doesn't seem to care about her very much since he's more focus on his long-lost brother. And I have no idea where that boy is.

No seriously. I have no idea where these characters are at. They are not sticking into my head very well. And that's part of the problem. Too many characters. Please try to stick it to one person, or at most three. When it becomes five or more, the book becomes...troubling.

Rating: Three out of Five (good story, so far)

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[Travis Starnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself is about as cookie cutter spy/action thriller as you get. It isn’t bad mind you, just a bit ho-hum. The good guys are clever and often manage to outwit their adversaries and there is some good action with a few plot twists thrown in to keep you on your toes. The only real problem with the plot twists is that they are completely telegraphed. You see where the twists are going almost as soon as they are introduced and readers of the genre will find very few surprises. Additionally there are problems with the sub-plots. Mayland introduces events and side characters that he never really follows up with. There are long periods where the plot hook, meaning the orphaned boy, is not heard from and it isn’t clear where he is or what is happening to him. While I am fine with a book having multiple sub-plots running in and out of the main story these have to be kept up. It is a problem when the author introduces something and then just drops it

The other issue I have with the book are the characters, well sort of. The main characters, Sava and Decker are fine and just what you would want from this type of story. It’s the supporting cast where the issues come up. The biggest problem is Daria who I genuinely liked and was really the impetus for the book kicking into gear, and Mayland just lets her fade out half way through the book. While she is the biggest instance of this she is not the only one. Mayland tends to use characters as plot points rather than as actual characters.

http://homeofreading.com/spy-for-hire/>

[Orest Stelmach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Sava, a retired CIA station chief, tries to save a two-year old boy and becomes embroiled in a clandestine war in the Middle East.

Mark Sava has forsaken his life of service for one of relaxation with his girlfriend, Daria Buckingham, in Kyrgyzstan. That doesn’t prevent him from accepting an espionage contract now and then, as long as the mission is consistent with his moral compass. When a child in Daria’s care becomes the target of interest of Saudi and CIA agents, Sava intercedes at her request. His investigation into the boy’s true identity catapults him into a fight for power in the Middle East, one which requires all his experience and resources to survive.

Readers who have not read Mr. Mayland’s two previous Sava novels, will not suffer from a lack of previous information. Those who have spent time with his characters before will welcome their continued evolution. Mr. Mayland’s trademarks are on continued display in this exceptional story, especially his rapid pacing, economy of words and peerless regional expertise. The author is a master of credible suspense. The plot is realistic, and the pages teem with authentic geographic, religious, and cultural details. These lessons are imparted seamlessly in the context of an action-adventure story. Mr. Mayland also releases fascinating tidbits of back-story concerning the protagonist. Readers will relish the revelations and find themselves turning the pages with increasing urgency as they approach the novel's stunning conclusion.

Verdict: A spy to hire.

[Rohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Extra .5 for the dinner incident with Rad in India.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spy for Hire continues Dan Mayland's Mark Sava series with an exceptional sequel to The Colonel's Mistake and The Leveling.

After Mark and Daria's earlier adventures in Azerbaijan forced them to leave the country, they settled in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where Mark spends his days playing narde and running his spy-for-hire business and Daria dedicates herself to helping local orphans. All seems cozy, if not a tad boring for Mark and Daria who are readjusting to normal civilian life.

Their peaceful routine is upturned when a young child is kidnapped from Daria's orphanage a day after he arrives. When Saudi nationals and the CIA are willing to go to great lengths to obtain the child, it quickly becomes clear that something is terribly amiss and the abduction is no average kidnapping.

Daria, Mark, and Decker must combine forces to protect a young two year old boy from becoming the pawn in an international crisis. With lives on the line and a great deal of wealth and power at stake, Mark must fight through government cover ups to find out who the boy is and what he means to the groups trying to claim him. When Mark's past is violently thrown into the mix, he'll be forced to revisit some things better left buried.

Spy for Hire is an exciting glimpse into a land half a world away, into political corruption, espionage, and a telling look at the early life of Mark Sava. This is a must read for anyone who loves mystery and spy thrillers. Dan Mayland keeps the reader guessing until the very end in this exciting, fast paced novel.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book I read of Dan Mayland's and was afraid at first because I did not read the other 2 Mark Sava books. However this book was easy to pick up without having it read the others and I loved the book. It was an easy read, keeping you in suspense throughout the entire book, and leaving you with a good ending. I would recommend this book to all and I will have to read tag either books in the Mark Sava series!
*I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read

This series is growing on me and pulling me along to read the next. Dan Mayland spins a good tale; I am connecting with the core characters and find myself wanting to see what comes next.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better plotted than the previous two and interesting change of prime locations. A little disappointing that Daria disappeared for much of the novel.

[Chessy The Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Sava has been kicked out of Azerbaijan – permanently. He currently resided in Kyrgyzstan with his girlfriend, Daria Buckingham. Both are former CIA operatives. Daria has left the spy world for more altruistic endeavors. While Mark is now working for Central Asian Information Networks (CAIN), a spy for hire corporation. In an ordinary world the orphanage that Daria works for would not be involved in a covert spy op. But, Mark’s world is far from ordinary.

Mayland’s third novel in the Mark Sava Spy series, Spy for Hire puts a two-year-old orphan in the middle of a power struggle from Kyrgyzstan to India and to Bahrain. Like any good mystery there are several twists and false leads that keep you guessing until the very end.

CAIN is the starting point and the owner, Bruce Holtz had decided not to tell Mark. Not knowing whom to trust he calls in John Decker to protect the child until things are sorted out. The players use Mark’s past against him. All he wants to do is right by the child.

4 out of 5 stars.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been expelled from Azerbaijan, Mark Sava has settled into a quiet life in Kyrgyzstan with Daria, making money working for a private intelligence agency while otherwise taking it easy. Then Daria needs a favour: A small child has been taken from one of the orphanages she works with, and she wants Mark to get him back. It soon turns out that Mark's employer was involved in some strange and likely nefarious plot, resulting in the orphaned boy, name and origin unknown, becoming a pawn the CIA, Saudi intelligence, and Bahraini royals are all seeking to get their hands on to further their own ends. Mark, with the help of his ex-SEAL buddy John Decker, just wants to keep the kid safe until he can hand him off to someone who has the child's best interests at heart rather than his own, but that's a lot easier said than done.

I do believe this was the best book so far in this series. This one delves into Mark's past, which has thus far just occasionally been hinted at, which helps flesh out the character a little more.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark clashes with multiple government agencies who are fighting over a tiny tot.

Just who is this little 2 year old! Why do so many Agencies want him? Mark and Daria are trying to figure this out. So many lies. So many half truths. So many fights and political undermining. So many fingers interfering.
Readers are transported through the underpinnings of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain, and Dubai. We do not get a pretty cozy tourist trip but a taste of the nasty and dirty behaviors of multiple governments and their nasty, dirty agencies all scratching for power.

[Jennifer Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Dan Hawks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three spies and a baby.

Not as good as the other two in my opinion. I don't like to give away spoilers. If you are a fan of the series it's definitely worth your time.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, good pace, hard to put down. This series would make a good miniseries.

[David Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Sava has retired from the CIA and is taking it easy in Kyrgyzstan. He is spending his days playing board games with the old men of his new hometown. His girlfriend Daria is trying to be supportive, but she is ready for him to get back to work. In the meantime she is running several orphanages in the region. The action in the novel starts when two men forcibly remove a young boy from one of the orphanages. There is only one road out of the region so Daria calls Sava and asks him to stop them. He does and suddenly finds himself in the middle of an international crisis. This small boy seems to be wrapped up in some scheme that involves the CIA and Saudi Intelligence. Sava has few people he can trust. Before he knows it his own distant past comes back to trap him.

Now, with the help of only a few close friends and some old trusted colleagues he has to face down agents who want to use this boy to manipulate the future of a nation. Sava has to balance all of the stories he is hearing against the well being of the child. Since everyone seems to be telling him half truths his job is that much harder. Along the way Sava has to confront some of his own personal demons.

The book is well written and very interesting. You don't find a lot of novels focusing on this the Central Asian republics that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. While Sava shows himself to be tough as nails he tends to use his brain for than his brawn. His enemies are cunning and devious, so is he. They show themselves capable of kidnapping, so does he. He is not an anti-hero though. Sava may bend the rules, but he still operates by a code. In many ways Sava reminds me a lot of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good spy thriller novel. This is my first Sava novel, but it will not be my last. I hope to see Sava, Daria, and the rest of this new crew back in action soon.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Mayland's latest installment in his Mark Sava series, "Spy for Hire", is spectacular. It moves the main character--Sava--comfortably out of the CIA into his own spy-for-hire company and establishes several others as players in the storyline, namely his live-in girlfriend and one of the guys who works for him. In this book, Sava tracks a kidnapped child who is at the middle of a political and emotional firestorm. As he attempts to find and rescue the 4-year old, he must figure out if his family actually cares for his welfare or just want to use him--and is that any of Sava's business? The subplots are just as intriguing: Sava's CIA ties, Decker's effort to get back to America to see his dying father (Decker is a recurring character who works in Sava's spy business)

The characters are well-developed and appealing, the plot is clever and demanding, and the pace is unrelenting. For anyone not familiar with the character, Mayland does a great job establishing Sava's bona fides early in the story:

"Mark took a moment, as he always did upon entering a room., to analyze the situation. Daria was wearing an apron over a nice black skirt and a green blouse, which told him she'd come from a meeting, probably in Bishkek, and that she had more meetings planned for later in the day; her phone was on the counter, and turned on, so she'd likely been trying to conduct business while she cooked; onion skins were scattered all over the countertop cutting board, which suggested she was rushed because she typically cleaned as she cooked; and her brown eyes looked happy but tired."

One paragraph and we've learned volumes about the main character.

I don't have as much to say bout this book--for all the right reasons. Usually, I jot down my thoughts as I'm reading. This time, I'd be through a hundred pages before I realized I hadn't written a thing. I guess that tells you a lot, too.

Highly recommended--the best in the series.

[Jo Reason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was the best of the three books so far, there is loads of information on the background of the main character Mark Sava, his history, bits on his childhood etc. for people who have read the previous two books (The Colonel´s Mistake & The Leveling) it will really bring to him life. The book continues with a couple of the same characters Daria Buckingham and John Decker. Although this is the third in the series there is enough information for the reader to understand what is going on without reading the previous two but if you can read them in order you will have a better experience.
There is an element of emotion in this one, there is a little two year old involved, who has been kidnapped from his home, and it all gets complicated, with the CIA and Saudi´s getting in the way, Mark, of course has to help sort things out, along with the help of Daria and John. John who seems such a tough guy shows a little tenderness.
It is a great area to place a spy novel, I loved to read about the area, the corruption, and all the other things that go on in the book. Dan has a wonderful knowledge of the area and does a good job explaining things in the book. Mark visits Bahrain in the book and again there is plenty of knowledge of the small country.

I found myself looking up narde and how to play, it seems an interesting game.
I love the maps in the beginning of the book, gives me some idea of the area. But for more information I recommend click this link for loads of extras to help get to know the characters and other stuff. http://www.danmayland.com/Extras.html

Love, love love this one. Well done Dan, and a very special thanks for the ARC copy sent all the way to Ecuador, what a treat.
I hope there will be more because I will be first in line to read them.

[R J Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing seems to get under the skin of Mark Sava and John Decker most of the time. That is until a two year old boy named Muhammad is dropped off at an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan. This orphanage just happens to be funded by Mark’s girlfriend, Daria Buckingham. But when the very next day the boy is openly kidnapped by two Saudi agents, Daria asks Mark to come to the child’s rescue, and the game is on.

Mark reacts quickly and is able to secure Muhammad. He then enlists John Decker to babysit and protect the boy while he tries to figure out what is really going on. Sava quickly determines that Bruce Holtz, his boss at CAIN, knows much more than he’s saying. Then Bruce threatens to fire him if he doesn’t immediately return the boy. Never someone who can be intimidated, Mark keeps digging. After several attempts to retrieve the child are foiled by Decker’s quick thinking, Mark and John use their CIA contacts to slowly, painfully determine the truth. What seems at first to be a small boy being jostled about ends up with the murder of the Saudi royal family and the fate of the Saudi nation.

Dan weaves a clandestine tale around a wonderfully mysterious part of the world. He brings the sounds and smells to life. His descriptions pull you into the story and then chase you down the street. I enjoyed learning about Mark’s back-story; his family and childhood were heart-wrenching.
My only disappointment in this story was Daria. She propels the men into action and then fades to the background. I think that she would have insisted that she be a part of the action. But all-in-all, a wonderful read.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.

Spy for Hire is non-stop action from start to finish. The third book in the Mark Sava series stands well on its own. References to things that occurred in the previous books are smoothly incorporated into the storyline and don’t leave the reader wondering what happened. This is my second Mark Sava book and I did feel that the main characters are more fully developed, interesting and relatable than in the previous book (I would actually enjoy reading a book centered on Decker!) Dan Mayland keeps the action moving and his fast paced thriller takes the reader on a harrowing adventure from Kazakhstan to Bahrain while providing a fascinating look at the role of global espionage in these areas. It also provides a fascinating look at the culture and people of these areas. The author suggests linking to his website, http://www.danmayland.com, for additional information about characters from the novels, along with maps and pictures of the countries featured in each of his books. I thought this was a nice addition and really enjoyed looking at actual photographs of the places I was reading about.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the latest book in the Mark Sava series and have come to a conclusion. This series of books is criminally under read.

It's a fun, fast-paced thriller set in an interesting location. How many books have you read that are set in Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain? The plot isn't overly confusing as happens so often in books of this genre. Although to be fair, there are a few murky plot points in the beginning that are soon cleared up by the end of the book. Each book has gotten better and better in my opinion. This book maintains the edge of your seat excitement found in the previous two books, but also starts building up the history of Mark Sava and John Decker. The ending adds a new twist that will be fun to see play out in future books.

I gave the book 4 stars, a thoroughly enjoyable, edge of your seat thriller that leaves you wanting more.

[Jacqueline Lichtenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layered and Complex

This is the kind of writing readers who have read a lot of novels will admire.

The tangled politics of Russia and the Middle East all the way from the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf is such an integral part of the story you barely notice how much you are learning of it all. The places where the story moves are described with broadly sketched familiarity that is evocative. If you have been there you will recognize it in the story.

It is the story and the characters you will remember best. This is the story of the making of a man, the elements of life that toughen and strengthen a woman entangled with such a man, and why they choose to live in such places and let The Great Game of international maneuvering draw them back in again and again.

[Josh Schwenck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall a solid addition to the Mark Sava series. Like the sequel The Leveling, this could be read without reading the earlier two books but reading the previous two gives a deeper understanding to some plot points and relationships between characters. Story wise, it starts out a bit different but as the plot unfolds the pieces come together. This book delves more into the past of Mark and his early family life which hasn't been touched on in the earlier books.

Also, without giving away any plot details, this book does leave the door open for another book in the future which I look forward to reading!

[Jkane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a few years since I'd read one of Dan Mayland's Mark Sava novels. I read something recently that reminded me of him, so I decided to pick back up with the Sava series. I flew through novel, finding it incredibly compelling. The part that I remembered most of Mayland's novels is that he does a tremendous job of putting the reader smack-dab in the middle of an area of this Earth with which most Americans are unfamiliar. This novels does the same thing, albeit in a different locale than the first two Sava novels. If you want an atypical, tight spy novel, you cannot go wrong here.

This was my favorite of his novels, mostly due to the human touch that Mayland delivers here.

[Susan Krich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads book and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Although I didn't read the first 2 books in the series, it wasn't necessary for the enjoyment of this book. Most series repeat the prior story in the first third or half of the new book. This adventure started on page 1 and kept going without a lot of extraneous fillers not relevant to the story.
The chapters are short enough to be able read a bit whenever you have a few minutes but I was so interested that I stayed up late to finish it the same day I started.
I hope there will be a Mark Sava thriller.

[Sue Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Sava, the spy for hire, had to leave his previous post when an intelligence operation went wrong. Now in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, he passes time playing narde with his local friends. His girlfriend, Daria, helps at several orphanages.

A child is abducted from one of Daria's orphanages and she asks Mark to find and return the child.

The ensuing chases and investigations across several countries keep up a fast pace, and make for a very interesting and thrilling read. Thoroughly recommended.

I received a free copy in return for an honest review.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from a GoodReads give away. Having never read Dan Mayland's Mark Sava Spy-Thrillers I wasn't sure what to expect and at first felt a little lost, but it didn't take long to get up to speed and into the story about the kidnapping of a child from Daria's orphanage. Soon the story unfolds with several twists and turns. Certainly keep me wondering what was next. The Mark Sava series can add a new fan I will be waiting for the next book in the series for sure.

[Esther Somorai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC book free in a 2nd chance contest from the author. Thank you.

What a totally exciting read. I so much enjoyed this engaging story as well as all the characters, which kept my interest throughout. It's a story that could take place in real life, not just in books. There is a nice flow to the author's writing for a very smooth, well written, well paced, fast read. **Recommend**

[Brittany Wendtland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book threw Goodreads Firstreads. I really liked this book!!! It had some great characters. I started reading this and could not put it down. I wanted to know how it ended. Although I was quite confused with all the cities and areas in the book, but hey I live in a small city and have a hard time getting around. All in all a great read and a great ending!! Great job Dan Mayland!!!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway through Goodreads First Reads.

Spy for Hire is a fast-paced thriller, with an unusual starting point -- the kidnapping of a 2-year old little boy. While I enjoyed the story, my favorite thing about the book was the descriptions of the places in which the story takes place.