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Mark Sava #2
The Leveling
These days, Mark Sava spends more time in tutoring sessions than in cloak-and-dagger rendezvous. The former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan has settled into the modest life of a professor in Baku…until an assassin makes a brazen attempt on his life in the hallowed halls of the national library.
The Azeri government deems Sava, with his complex past, a security threat and orders him out of the country immediately. At the same time, the CIA orders Sava back to the US. But when he receives cryptic photos that lead him to believe his friend John Decker has been kidnapped—Sava knows he has no option but to find Decker.
He teams up with ex–CIA spy and former girlfriend Daria Buckingham, and the two soon find themselves being chased by Chinese intelligence agents through the underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran, caught in the middle of a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe.
The Azeri government deems Sava, with his complex past, a security threat and orders him out of the country immediately. At the same time, the CIA orders Sava back to the US. But when he receives cryptic photos that lead him to believe his friend John Decker has been kidnapped—Sava knows he has no option but to find Decker.
He teams up with ex–CIA spy and former girlfriend Daria Buckingham, and the two soon find themselves being chased by Chinese intelligence agents through the underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran, caught in the middle of a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
67 people are currently reading
845 people want to read
About the author
Dan Mayland
5 books102 followersDan 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 24, 2013
"Book 2 in the Mark Sava spy thriller series. (Can be read as a standalone.)
These days, Mark Sava spends more time in tutoring sessions than in cloak-and-dagger rendezvous. The former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan has settled into the modest life of a professor in Baku…until an assassin makes a brazen attempt on his life in the hallowed halls of the national library.
The Azeri government deems Sava, with his complex past, a security threat and orders him out of the country immediately. At the same time, the CIA orders Sava back to the US. But when he receives cryptic photos that lead him to believe his friend John Decker has been kidnapped—Sava knows he has no option but to find Decker.
He teams up with ex–CIA spy and former girlfriend Daria Buckingham, and the two soon find themselves being chased by Chinese intelligence agents through the underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran, caught in the middle of a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe."
As you can tell from the synopsis above, the plot in THE LEVELING,the second book by Dan Mayland is quite engaging. Yet I starting reading this book with a trepidation. I absolutely loved "The Colonel’s Mistake", Mayland's debut novel and the first book in the Mark Sava series.
I had a fear of the "sophmore jinx"..could a writer whose debut book was one of the best thrillers I have read in years follow it up with a sequel which equaled the greatness of the first book?
After having now read THE LEVELING..I can now answer that question with a very definitive YES!!...This second Sava adventure is quite simply a stunner...a magnificent follow-up to brilliant debut..and it now cements Dan Mayland's place in the top tier of thriller writers.
As per usual with my reviews, I do not focus on plot details,as the provided synopsis does that well enough. My focus is on the writer's ability to deliver on the promised plot. Dan Mayland has had a long background living and working in the locales he writes about. This fact accounts, partly, for the spot on decriptions, the fact that Mayland is a much gifted writer accounts for the readers' feeling of "actually being there" ..right in the middle of the action.
There is not a false note in the character development. Mark Sava, so well introduced in The Colonel’s Mistake, is further fleshed out and comes across as a highly capable, yet human character. His desire, in the beginning of the book, to leave his hectic life behind rings so very true to the character portrayed in The Colonel’s Mistake. The action sequences are taut and very realistic,and serve to further the plot..not overshadow it. Daria Buckingham is also a welcome return character, as she is not simply a pretty ornament...but rather every bit Sava's equal.
The underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran are transformed into characters themselves, thanks to Mayland's wonderful sense of creating atmosphere being put to perfect use. THE LEVELING is one of those books that grabs you from the first page and takes you on a thrill ride, and yet informs as well..about worlds most never knew exists..and worlds we should be grateful we can glimpse, safely, due to the talents of a major new writer. While THE LEVELING is a sequel to The Colonel’s Mistake, it can be read as a stand alone book. I very highly recommend reading them both though, as each is a magnificent example of a thinking person's thriller.
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB (7,000 MEMBERS)
These days, Mark Sava spends more time in tutoring sessions than in cloak-and-dagger rendezvous. The former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan has settled into the modest life of a professor in Baku…until an assassin makes a brazen attempt on his life in the hallowed halls of the national library.
The Azeri government deems Sava, with his complex past, a security threat and orders him out of the country immediately. At the same time, the CIA orders Sava back to the US. But when he receives cryptic photos that lead him to believe his friend John Decker has been kidnapped—Sava knows he has no option but to find Decker.
He teams up with ex–CIA spy and former girlfriend Daria Buckingham, and the two soon find themselves being chased by Chinese intelligence agents through the underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran, caught in the middle of a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe."
As you can tell from the synopsis above, the plot in THE LEVELING,the second book by Dan Mayland is quite engaging. Yet I starting reading this book with a trepidation. I absolutely loved "The Colonel’s Mistake", Mayland's debut novel and the first book in the Mark Sava series.
I had a fear of the "sophmore jinx"..could a writer whose debut book was one of the best thrillers I have read in years follow it up with a sequel which equaled the greatness of the first book?
After having now read THE LEVELING..I can now answer that question with a very definitive YES!!...This second Sava adventure is quite simply a stunner...a magnificent follow-up to brilliant debut..and it now cements Dan Mayland's place in the top tier of thriller writers.
As per usual with my reviews, I do not focus on plot details,as the provided synopsis does that well enough. My focus is on the writer's ability to deliver on the promised plot. Dan Mayland has had a long background living and working in the locales he writes about. This fact accounts, partly, for the spot on decriptions, the fact that Mayland is a much gifted writer accounts for the readers' feeling of "actually being there" ..right in the middle of the action.
There is not a false note in the character development. Mark Sava, so well introduced in The Colonel’s Mistake, is further fleshed out and comes across as a highly capable, yet human character. His desire, in the beginning of the book, to leave his hectic life behind rings so very true to the character portrayed in The Colonel’s Mistake. The action sequences are taut and very realistic,and serve to further the plot..not overshadow it. Daria Buckingham is also a welcome return character, as she is not simply a pretty ornament...but rather every bit Sava's equal.
The underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran are transformed into characters themselves, thanks to Mayland's wonderful sense of creating atmosphere being put to perfect use. THE LEVELING is one of those books that grabs you from the first page and takes you on a thrill ride, and yet informs as well..about worlds most never knew exists..and worlds we should be grateful we can glimpse, safely, due to the talents of a major new writer. While THE LEVELING is a sequel to The Colonel’s Mistake, it can be read as a stand alone book. I very highly recommend reading them both though, as each is a magnificent example of a thinking person's thriller.
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB (7,000 MEMBERS)
June 28, 2022
Few Americans know anything about Central Asia. Yet a quick glance at the map shows that the region is nestled among Russia to the north, China to the east, Pakistan and India to the south, and Iran to the southwest. In short, the “Stans” of Central Asia are the playground where a new Great Game is being played out among the powerful nations surrounding it and the ubiquitous United States. Like the 19th-century British and Russian Empires that contended for dominance there, the world’s emerging powers jockey for control over the region’s rich natural resources today. And that is the background for Dan Mayland’s superb novel of geopolitical intrigue in Central Asia, The Leveling.
UNFAMILIAR PLAYERS IN THE NEW GREAT GAME
Readers of espionage fiction are familiar with the CIA, MI6 and MI5, KGB and FSA. But other major players are emerging on the world scene. In the first of the four Mark Sava novels Day Mayland has published to date, he introduced us to Iran’s MOIS (Ministry of Intelligence). Now, in the series’ second entry, we meet China’s Guoanbu (Ministry of State Security). Former CIA Station Chief Mark Sava will be put to the test as never before as he tangles with the aggressive officers of China’s foreign intelligence service.
THREE FAMILIAR CENTRAL CHARACTERS
Three of the principal characters in The Colonel’s Mistake, the first Mark Sava novel, reemerge in The Leveling. Mark Sava is still living in Baku, Azerbaijan, teaching at Western University. His role as CIA Station Chief there is now in the past. Daria Buckingham, the young woman he trained as a CIA Operations Officer, has also left the Agency. She’s now on her own, gathering intelligence wherever she can find it and selling it piecemeal to Western and regional intelligence services. And former Navy SEAL John Decker has remained, marketing himself as a bodyguard. In The Colonel’s Mistake, these three became involved together in a dangerous game of espionage that threatened all their lives. And now danger is in the wings again. Because Mark has just survived an assassination attempt on campus.
INTRIGUE IN CENTRAL ASIA THROUGHOUT THE REGION
Like The Colonel’s Mistake, The Leveling is a complex tale that roams across a vast region. The story opens on Kish Island, Iran, and draws to a close in northern Iran and Washingon, DC. Between those bookends we visit Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, China, and Iran. But Mayland’s novel is less a travelogue than a primer on the diverse politics of Central Asia. We Americans would do well to learn more about this increasingly important part of the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
On his author website, Dan Mayland writes that he “is the author of the Mark Sava spy series and The Doctor of Aleppo, novels informed by his long love of history and experiences in the Caspian Region and Middle East. While Azerbaijan was a particular focus beginning in 2005, Mayland also conducted research in Iran prior to the 2009 uprising, in Bahrain shortly after the eruption of the Arab Spring, in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge in 2013, on the Turkey-Syria border after the fall of Aleppo, and more recently in refugee camps on the island of Lesbos, Greece. In these places and others, Mayland has interviewed diplomats, spies, doctors, protestors, aid workers, refugees, and anyone else who will talk to him.
“In addition to writing novels, Mayland is a geopolitical forecaster. He stumbled upon this role in 2014 when he was invited to participate in research being funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). After his probabilistic forecasts over nearly two hundred geopolitical questions proved to be more accurate than ninety-nine percent of other research participants, including those of trained intelligence analysts, Mayland was asked to participate in additional research—in which his forecasts proved to be equally accurate. As a result, he now forecasts professionally for Good Judgment Inc., a firm which claims, with ample justification based on their work with the ODNI, to be ‘the world’s most accurate geo-political and geo-economic forecasting entity.’”
UNFAMILIAR PLAYERS IN THE NEW GREAT GAME
Readers of espionage fiction are familiar with the CIA, MI6 and MI5, KGB and FSA. But other major players are emerging on the world scene. In the first of the four Mark Sava novels Day Mayland has published to date, he introduced us to Iran’s MOIS (Ministry of Intelligence). Now, in the series’ second entry, we meet China’s Guoanbu (Ministry of State Security). Former CIA Station Chief Mark Sava will be put to the test as never before as he tangles with the aggressive officers of China’s foreign intelligence service.
THREE FAMILIAR CENTRAL CHARACTERS
Three of the principal characters in The Colonel’s Mistake, the first Mark Sava novel, reemerge in The Leveling. Mark Sava is still living in Baku, Azerbaijan, teaching at Western University. His role as CIA Station Chief there is now in the past. Daria Buckingham, the young woman he trained as a CIA Operations Officer, has also left the Agency. She’s now on her own, gathering intelligence wherever she can find it and selling it piecemeal to Western and regional intelligence services. And former Navy SEAL John Decker has remained, marketing himself as a bodyguard. In The Colonel’s Mistake, these three became involved together in a dangerous game of espionage that threatened all their lives. And now danger is in the wings again. Because Mark has just survived an assassination attempt on campus.
INTRIGUE IN CENTRAL ASIA THROUGHOUT THE REGION
Like The Colonel’s Mistake, The Leveling is a complex tale that roams across a vast region. The story opens on Kish Island, Iran, and draws to a close in northern Iran and Washingon, DC. Between those bookends we visit Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, China, and Iran. But Mayland’s novel is less a travelogue than a primer on the diverse politics of Central Asia. We Americans would do well to learn more about this increasingly important part of the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
On his author website, Dan Mayland writes that he “is the author of the Mark Sava spy series and The Doctor of Aleppo, novels informed by his long love of history and experiences in the Caspian Region and Middle East. While Azerbaijan was a particular focus beginning in 2005, Mayland also conducted research in Iran prior to the 2009 uprising, in Bahrain shortly after the eruption of the Arab Spring, in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge in 2013, on the Turkey-Syria border after the fall of Aleppo, and more recently in refugee camps on the island of Lesbos, Greece. In these places and others, Mayland has interviewed diplomats, spies, doctors, protestors, aid workers, refugees, and anyone else who will talk to him.
“In addition to writing novels, Mayland is a geopolitical forecaster. He stumbled upon this role in 2014 when he was invited to participate in research being funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). After his probabilistic forecasts over nearly two hundred geopolitical questions proved to be more accurate than ninety-nine percent of other research participants, including those of trained intelligence analysts, Mayland was asked to participate in additional research—in which his forecasts proved to be equally accurate. As a result, he now forecasts professionally for Good Judgment Inc., a firm which claims, with ample justification based on their work with the ODNI, to be ‘the world’s most accurate geo-political and geo-economic forecasting entity.’”
September 25, 2018
Mark Sava is a former CIA station chief retired in Baku, Azerbaijan where he teaches college. His life was rather peaceful. That is until an assassin attempts to kill him while he is tutoring the son of a high-ranking member of society. With his known past, the government of Azeri kicks him out of the country permanently. Before he can leave he receives photos he believes came from his friend John Decker. The CIA wants him back in the USA. But, Sava feels he must find Decker first. Who wants Sava killed and why? What does Decker’s disappearance have to do with it?
Mayland’s second novel in the Mark Sava Spy series, The Leveling is full of intrigue and espionage. From the dark underworld of the Middle East Sava and his former girlfriend, Daria Buckingham search for answers and Decker. Add the Chinese to the mix and the region is set for war.
If you love spy novels The Leveling will not disappoint. It will keep you guessing until the very end. The fast-paced action is almost nerve-wracking. Trust is a commodity easily bought and then resold.
5 out of 5 stars.
Mayland’s second novel in the Mark Sava Spy series, The Leveling is full of intrigue and espionage. From the dark underworld of the Middle East Sava and his former girlfriend, Daria Buckingham search for answers and Decker. Add the Chinese to the mix and the region is set for war.
If you love spy novels The Leveling will not disappoint. It will keep you guessing until the very end. The fast-paced action is almost nerve-wracking. Trust is a commodity easily bought and then resold.
5 out of 5 stars.
June 7, 2013
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Leveling by Dan Mayland is the 2nd book of the Mark Sava series and the sequel to The Colonel’s Mistake that was released last year. The story is set nearly an year after the events of the first book. Mark is back in Azerbaijan trying to do a favor and teach a colleague’s son about the subjects that he will have to take a test for. He however doesn’t plan on assassins coming to kill him and while that plot goes awry. He soon finds himself termed persona non-grata in his adopted country and has to find out why and who are behind these recent turn of events.
This book is distinctly different from its predecessor, while the first one was more of a spy thriller that focused on locales that have almost never been touched upon. This one works a bit differently. It also features John Decker who had a tiny role in the first book however is in quite a tough spot due to certain events that occur. There’s also Daria but her role is much different from the last book as well. The readers also get a further bit of light shined upon Mark’s past and there are quite some revelations. The story is more of a thriller and has twin story threads that often run in tandem and keep the reader hooked into discovering as to how they are tied together.
Like the last book, the main mystery thread is well handled and keeps the readers engaged till the very end. In fact I would say with this book has a better mystery thread than the first one. It involves a whole lot of stuff that creeps up in headlines as well as the usual geopolitical alliances that are very hard to discern. I very much enjoyed how the author explores the central Asian region that is the basis of the new Great Game, I don’t think there’s quite any new books that are focusing on this vital conflict and that adds to the unique-ish USP of this series. There's also the action sequences which are a bit restrained than the last one however are no less intense as the author brngs to the fore the various torture techniques that come to the fore with regards to spies that are caught. The author doesn't really take sides in the torture debate but simply shows how viscerally disturbing it can be.
Another thing about this book is that it serves as a standalone while the past events are referred to, the readers who are new to this series will not feel left out. The standalone nature of the story is a good thing as it becomes easy for newer readers to jump in and for older readers its not difficult to pick up from wherein the story ended last. The time gap is about eight-ten months between both the books and the author provides enough clues about what has occurred since then for the current relations between characters to be so. With this book, I believe the author is marking out an ending of sorts to the various character arcs and hopefully the next book will showcase newer aspects of the characters's lives and even newer locales.
While The Leveling is a good book, there’s one factor that really didn’t gel with the overall goodness of the book. In the previous book, there was quite a bit of tension between Sava and Daria and that kept the narrative pretty interesting. In this book however due to the certain events orchestrated by the author, that tension isn’t entirely present and thus makes the book the lesser of the two in the series so far. The ending however brings and end to aan important phase in Mark Sava's life and heralds the beginning of a slightly new direction in the series which will only makes the wait for the next book that much more beguiling.
June 24, 2013
Dan Mayland's sequel to "The Colonel's Mistake", "The Leveling" (Thomas & Mercer 2013) is a worthy follow-up. The plot follow a favorite thread of mine--spy/agent/SEAL struggles to start over as a professor/shop keeper/loving mate, only to be wrenched back into the treachery of his former life by forces beyond his control. In this case Mark Sava is a CIA agent-turned-professor living in the questionable city of Baku, Azerbaijan. He thinks he's done it--remade himself complete with serious girlfriend ignorant of his past, non-CIA friends, and memories that don't include blood and butchery.
Until fate intervenes and he is thrown out of his adopted country about the same time John Decker, a friend from his spy days, goes missing, presumably kidnapped. No one is trying to find Decker so Sava teams up with another ex-CIA operative to find him.
The plot isn't terribly original. What makes this a five-star read is how Mayland writes--the plot twists, character development, and setting knowledge that no one short of a man who's lived that part of the world in too-close relief would know. Tell me that you don't see exactly what Mayland wants you to with this perfect collection of words:
"Beyond the windows, daily life in the city of Baku played like a silent film [through soundproof windows]. A dirty minibus belching diesel fumes and packed with people lurched by. An old man in a three-piece suit slowly painted the trunk of a sidewalk tree white. A lady in high heels and a miniskirt chatted on a cell phone while a withered Gypsy woman in bright clothes swept the street."
What a masterful job of building Mark Sava's character--caring, intelligent, ex-CIA so notices everything, empathetic for the world he inhabits. Or how about this:
He thought about how Buddhist monks would spend days constructing an intricate sand painting, only to destroy it right after they'd finished. The exercise allegedly helped them embrace impermanence. Which was exactly what he needed to do.
This description shows up on page 51. Tell me you can resist a character who knows how Buddhist monks train?
One detractor: Lots of flashbacks, early in the book. Mayland makes them work because they aren't narrative and reflective. They're action-packed and pithy. I can handle that.
Overall, if you're crunched for time over the summer, this is not the book you want to skip.
Until fate intervenes and he is thrown out of his adopted country about the same time John Decker, a friend from his spy days, goes missing, presumably kidnapped. No one is trying to find Decker so Sava teams up with another ex-CIA operative to find him.
The plot isn't terribly original. What makes this a five-star read is how Mayland writes--the plot twists, character development, and setting knowledge that no one short of a man who's lived that part of the world in too-close relief would know. Tell me that you don't see exactly what Mayland wants you to with this perfect collection of words:
"Beyond the windows, daily life in the city of Baku played like a silent film [through soundproof windows]. A dirty minibus belching diesel fumes and packed with people lurched by. An old man in a three-piece suit slowly painted the trunk of a sidewalk tree white. A lady in high heels and a miniskirt chatted on a cell phone while a withered Gypsy woman in bright clothes swept the street."
What a masterful job of building Mark Sava's character--caring, intelligent, ex-CIA so notices everything, empathetic for the world he inhabits. Or how about this:
He thought about how Buddhist monks would spend days constructing an intricate sand painting, only to destroy it right after they'd finished. The exercise allegedly helped them embrace impermanence. Which was exactly what he needed to do.
This description shows up on page 51. Tell me you can resist a character who knows how Buddhist monks train?
One detractor: Lots of flashbacks, early in the book. Mayland makes them work because they aren't narrative and reflective. They're action-packed and pithy. I can handle that.
Overall, if you're crunched for time over the summer, this is not the book you want to skip.
August 30, 2013
I received this book for free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a Steve Berry ring to it. The main character, Mark Sava, is a big draw. There is something about him that really struck me. It may be his quiet presence even though he is in the middle of intense action. I like the way the book kept the action going, I don't remember ever feeling tired or bored with this book. There is a romantic tension between Mark and his ex-girlfriend Daria. The ending is not completely clear on whether they get back together or not but I am sure the author planned it that way so we will be drawn to the next installment. I hate that Decker had to go through everything he went through but found his strength and will power to be amazing. I also appreciate the way Mayland was able to give us background information without me feeling that I was in a classroom reading a boring history book.
For those who are fans of the Cotton Malone series or the Camel Club will enjoy this series. Thank you Mr. Mayland for an enjoyable read.
This book had a Steve Berry ring to it. The main character, Mark Sava, is a big draw. There is something about him that really struck me. It may be his quiet presence even though he is in the middle of intense action. I like the way the book kept the action going, I don't remember ever feeling tired or bored with this book. There is a romantic tension between Mark and his ex-girlfriend Daria. The ending is not completely clear on whether they get back together or not but I am sure the author planned it that way so we will be drawn to the next installment. I hate that Decker had to go through everything he went through but found his strength and will power to be amazing. I also appreciate the way Mayland was able to give us background information without me feeling that I was in a classroom reading a boring history book.
For those who are fans of the Cotton Malone series or the Camel Club will enjoy this series. Thank you Mr. Mayland for an enjoyable read.
December 26, 2016
Another perfectly mediocre book in this series. As with the first one (The Colonel's Mistake), it was entertaining enough, but ultimately not something truly worth my time. There are two more books in this series but I think I'm going to skip those and move onto something better.
December 31, 2020
#cookiereads The Leveling by Dan Mayland 🗺
Book 2 of the Mark Sava spy series finds Mark still teaching in Azerbaijan. One day he is tutoring and then someone tries to kill him!!! As a result Azerbaijan deems Mark a security threat and orders him out of land the country immediately. Oh the CIA is recalling him back to the states. But before he can go back his friend John Decker sends him some suspicious photos that leads Mark to believe John has been kidnapped. Together with Daria Buckingham, former CIA agent, they travel to Turkmenistan and Iran to find John Decker. 🗺
Like the first book, this is a very fast paced book. I could seriously see this as a TV series. But again like the first book the characters lacked emotion. The author tries to pair Daria and Mark together but I just didn’t see the spark no really cared. 🗺
Two paws out of four paws. #marksava #spybooks #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #dogsreadingbooks #corgisofinstagram #corgireads #bluemerlecorgi
Book 2 of the Mark Sava spy series finds Mark still teaching in Azerbaijan. One day he is tutoring and then someone tries to kill him!!! As a result Azerbaijan deems Mark a security threat and orders him out of land the country immediately. Oh the CIA is recalling him back to the states. But before he can go back his friend John Decker sends him some suspicious photos that leads Mark to believe John has been kidnapped. Together with Daria Buckingham, former CIA agent, they travel to Turkmenistan and Iran to find John Decker. 🗺
Like the first book, this is a very fast paced book. I could seriously see this as a TV series. But again like the first book the characters lacked emotion. The author tries to pair Daria and Mark together but I just didn’t see the spark no really cared. 🗺
Two paws out of four paws. #marksava #spybooks #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #dogsreadingbooks #corgisofinstagram #corgireads #bluemerlecorgi
May 5, 2021
Mark Sava is now quietly retired living in Azerbaijan. His quiet unassuming life as a tutor, professor and writer is shattered when assassins attempt to kill him. The government of Azerbaijan are not pleased.
While investigating his own brush with death, he discovers Decker, a former co-worker has disappeared mysteriously. And no one will tell him anything of value. Sava is angry for multiple reasons other than the assassination attempt I will not go into. Spoilers you know.
But he and yet another former operative, Daria dive determined to find Decker. While searching, they end up in the unforgiving and dangerous territories within Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. There are manipulations all around. Between themselves, multiple governments and individuals all wanting something. There is politics, power plays and personal revenge.
There are some violent scenes regarding torture and fire fights but not some much this reader cringed.
While investigating his own brush with death, he discovers Decker, a former co-worker has disappeared mysteriously. And no one will tell him anything of value. Sava is angry for multiple reasons other than the assassination attempt I will not go into. Spoilers you know.
But he and yet another former operative, Daria dive determined to find Decker. While searching, they end up in the unforgiving and dangerous territories within Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. There are manipulations all around. Between themselves, multiple governments and individuals all wanting something. There is politics, power plays and personal revenge.
There are some violent scenes regarding torture and fire fights but not some much this reader cringed.
January 23, 2019
Following an attempt on Mark Sava's life, the Azeri government has decided that the former CIA station chief turned university professor is too much trouble and has declared him persona non grata, effective immediately. Forced to leave the country he's lived in for over a decade, Sava is simultaneously informed that his former boss at the CIA has summoned him back to the US. When he learns that his friend John Decker has disappeared and likely been kidnapped, he instead detours to Turkmenistan where Decker was last seen. Teaming up with former lover and ex-CIA officer Daria Buckingham, Sava follows Decker's trail, uncovering a conspiracy to plunge the US into a war with Iran along the way.
Like the first book, an absolute pageturner from start to finisn with non-stop action and an intriguing plot that kept me hooked all the way through.
Like the first book, an absolute pageturner from start to finisn with non-stop action and an intriguing plot that kept me hooked all the way through.
April 5, 2025
A sequel even more compelling than the first of the series. Dan Mayland builds scenes of such gripping intensity, my Garmin watch likely picked up spikes in my HR while reading it. A tour de force of spy craft through a geography, culture and people quite foreign to most Americans. Please, can someone turn the Mark Sava novels into a Netflix series?
May 5, 2017
CIA spy novel. Typical crass language. The author knows his locations. The story was okay. It dragged on for a bit, in my opinion. The author gives his main character a series of books. Not my thing, so I have no interest in reading more.
December 12, 2017
Michele Washington
Fast moving. Lots of fun. Enjoyed it. The characters stayed true to the first novel with some surprises. Can't wait for the next book.
Fast moving. Lots of fun. Enjoyed it. The characters stayed true to the first novel with some surprises. Can't wait for the next book.
October 29, 2021
Entertaining easy read but still suffers from the same narrative jumps. However the geography and culture of the Middle East seems well realised.
November 22, 2023
Good story, fun, and interesting. Useful tool catch up on a Goodreads goal...
June 26, 2013
I had the opportunity to read and review Dan Mayland’s The Colonel’s Mistake last year and enjoyed his debut work. I was looking forward to its follow-up, and lo and behold, Dan himself contacted me directly (so surely that puts us on a first name basis?) to offer an advanced reader copy--signed--as a way of saying thank you. He asked only that I read it if I so chose--and writing a review was optional. After I swooned a little, I immediately said YES, I received said copy of The Leveling in the mail soon after. I have to apologize to Dan, since it was no longer an advanced copy by the time I got to read it and now write this review. I’m pleased to report that The Leveling is available for your reading pleasure.
The Leveling is a follow-up to The Colonel’s Mistake--primarily in that the lead characters, Mark Sava and Daria Buckingham, were the leads in that book. Although there are references to events in the previous book, the plot here is self-contained enough to where you don’t have to have read the first one. Mayland once again takes us to the fringes of the Middle East with which we are more familiar, setting this novel primarily in Turkmenistan and Iran. Mark Sava has left the spy game behind and become a professor in Azerbaijan. However, after becoming persona non grata by the government (and asked to return to the U.S. by the CIA) and then learning of the kidnapping of his friend John Decker, Sava heads for a different border. He teams up with Daria, crossing the border between Turkmenistan and Iran, looking for Decker and being chased by members of Chinese intelligence. Meanwhile, Iran and the US are on the brink of war brought about by a secret conflict over oil.
This book surpassed its predecessor in so many ways. The characters were deeper. The plot was tighter. The suspense was built well. The ride was a bigger thrill. (In fact, all I wanted to do was read this book. Unfortunately, I had to keep putting it down to be a responsible adult for a few minutes here and there.) Well done, Dan Mayland. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Mark Sava and company.
The Leveling is a follow-up to The Colonel’s Mistake--primarily in that the lead characters, Mark Sava and Daria Buckingham, were the leads in that book. Although there are references to events in the previous book, the plot here is self-contained enough to where you don’t have to have read the first one. Mayland once again takes us to the fringes of the Middle East with which we are more familiar, setting this novel primarily in Turkmenistan and Iran. Mark Sava has left the spy game behind and become a professor in Azerbaijan. However, after becoming persona non grata by the government (and asked to return to the U.S. by the CIA) and then learning of the kidnapping of his friend John Decker, Sava heads for a different border. He teams up with Daria, crossing the border between Turkmenistan and Iran, looking for Decker and being chased by members of Chinese intelligence. Meanwhile, Iran and the US are on the brink of war brought about by a secret conflict over oil.
This book surpassed its predecessor in so many ways. The characters were deeper. The plot was tighter. The suspense was built well. The ride was a bigger thrill. (In fact, all I wanted to do was read this book. Unfortunately, I had to keep putting it down to be a responsible adult for a few minutes here and there.) Well done, Dan Mayland. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Mark Sava and company.
May 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this book!
What a great book. I bought this years ago and had forgotten that I had purchased it. It is the first book by Dan Mayland that I’ve read.... it won’t be the last though. I liked the characters and learning a bit about the cultures and geography of this fascinating region. Thanks for the great story, Dan!
What a great book. I bought this years ago and had forgotten that I had purchased it. It is the first book by Dan Mayland that I’ve read.... it won’t be the last though. I liked the characters and learning a bit about the cultures and geography of this fascinating region. Thanks for the great story, Dan!
May 5, 2013
The Leveling
By Dan Mayland
Summery courtesy of Amazon.com
These days, Mark Sava spends more time in tutoring sessions than in cloak-and-dagger rendezvous. The former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan has settled into the modest life of a professor in Baku…until an assassin makes a brazen attempt on his life in the hallowed halls of the national library.
The Azeri government deems Sava, with his complex past, a security threat and orders him out of the country immediately. At the same time, the CIA orders Sava back to the US. But when he receives cryptic photos that lead him to believe his friend John Decker has been kidnapped—Sava knows he has no option but to find Decker.
He teams up with ex–CIA spy and former girlfriend Daria Buckingham, and the two soon find themselves being chased by Chinese intelligence agents through the underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran, caught in the middle of a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe.
a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe.
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return, I have supplied an honest review of it.
I hadn't read Dan Mayland's previous book The Colonels mistake and was concerned that it may have hampered my understanding of events prior to reading this book, I needn't have worried Maylands descriptions and plot enthralled me with its non stop action.
This author is a brilliant new talent,(Matthew Reily fans are going to love this series) the non stop adventure and incredibly clever writing has made a fan of this reviewer.
5 STARS...
By Dan Mayland
Summery courtesy of Amazon.com
These days, Mark Sava spends more time in tutoring sessions than in cloak-and-dagger rendezvous. The former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan has settled into the modest life of a professor in Baku…until an assassin makes a brazen attempt on his life in the hallowed halls of the national library.
The Azeri government deems Sava, with his complex past, a security threat and orders him out of the country immediately. At the same time, the CIA orders Sava back to the US. But when he receives cryptic photos that lead him to believe his friend John Decker has been kidnapped—Sava knows he has no option but to find Decker.
He teams up with ex–CIA spy and former girlfriend Daria Buckingham, and the two soon find themselves being chased by Chinese intelligence agents through the underworlds of Turkmenistan and Iran, caught in the middle of a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe.
a secret conflict over oil that has the US and Iran tumbling headlong into war.
Filled with the espionage intrigue and pulse-pounding action that made The Colonel’s Mistake a runaway hit, The Leveling brings to life in electrifying detail one of the most dangerous regions of the globe.
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return, I have supplied an honest review of it.
I hadn't read Dan Mayland's previous book The Colonels mistake and was concerned that it may have hampered my understanding of events prior to reading this book, I needn't have worried Maylands descriptions and plot enthralled me with its non stop action.
This author is a brilliant new talent,(Matthew Reily fans are going to love this series) the non stop adventure and incredibly clever writing has made a fan of this reviewer.
5 STARS...
April 7, 2013
Retired CIA station chief turned academic Mark Sava returns to action to find out who is trying to kill him and why.
Mark Sava, the hero of Mr. Mayland's debut novel, The Colonel's Mistake, is enjoying the quiet life in the city of Baku in Azerbaijan. He moonlights as an English instructor for an influential government official. When an assassin fires on the official's son during a private tutorial, Sava is relieved that the boy escapes the attack unharmed. He is less pleased, however, to discover that he was the assassin's true target. Banished from Baku, Sava begins a quest to elude his killers and understand their motives. His investigation reveals that his former associate, John Decker, may know the reason he is in danger. But Decker is missing. Sava's former colleague and lover, Daria Buckingham, is already searching for Decker. The two join forces and follow a trail of clues along along treacherous terrain in Central Asia to find him.
Readers of The Colonel's Mistake will enjoy being reunited with Sava, Decker, and Buckingham. Sava and Buckingham are complex characters, driven by a sense of honor yet possessing the capability of being ruthless when required. Mr. Mayland's stories are steeped in reality and his characters act accordingly. The setting is remarkably authentic. The descriptions of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran are stellar. Readers will be transported to a region of the world most will never visit. The pace is relentless, the plot complex yet clear as it must be in this genre. And yet it is the two primary characters, Sava and Buckingham, who will linger in reader's minds when they reach the final pages and understand the true meaning of the book's title. For this is a spy thriller with an alternative agenda, one that will resonate with attentive readers.
Conclusion: The Leveling will knock you out.
Orest Stelmach, author of The Boy From Reactor 4
Mark Sava, the hero of Mr. Mayland's debut novel, The Colonel's Mistake, is enjoying the quiet life in the city of Baku in Azerbaijan. He moonlights as an English instructor for an influential government official. When an assassin fires on the official's son during a private tutorial, Sava is relieved that the boy escapes the attack unharmed. He is less pleased, however, to discover that he was the assassin's true target. Banished from Baku, Sava begins a quest to elude his killers and understand their motives. His investigation reveals that his former associate, John Decker, may know the reason he is in danger. But Decker is missing. Sava's former colleague and lover, Daria Buckingham, is already searching for Decker. The two join forces and follow a trail of clues along along treacherous terrain in Central Asia to find him.
Readers of The Colonel's Mistake will enjoy being reunited with Sava, Decker, and Buckingham. Sava and Buckingham are complex characters, driven by a sense of honor yet possessing the capability of being ruthless when required. Mr. Mayland's stories are steeped in reality and his characters act accordingly. The setting is remarkably authentic. The descriptions of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran are stellar. Readers will be transported to a region of the world most will never visit. The pace is relentless, the plot complex yet clear as it must be in this genre. And yet it is the two primary characters, Sava and Buckingham, who will linger in reader's minds when they reach the final pages and understand the true meaning of the book's title. For this is a spy thriller with an alternative agenda, one that will resonate with attentive readers.
Conclusion: The Leveling will knock you out.
Orest Stelmach, author of The Boy From Reactor 4
May 28, 2013
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
It is one of those books that you can´t put down, but you don´t want to finish as you want more.
A wonderful sequel from Dan Mayland (the first in the Mark Sava series is called The Colonel´s Mistake) it is really a joy to read a book where the action takes place in Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, something a little different for me, and the best of all are the photos of some of the places that Mark visits on the website of Dan Mayland, they really bring the book to life, wonderful. I wish more authors would do this. There are also a bunch of maps in the extras section which also help understand the area.
The author clearly has a great knowledge of the area and the descriptions of the cities and areas make you feel as if you are actually there, wandering around yourself. It is a nice easy book to read and for those who are unsure of the technical words in the book there is a glossary online at the authors website. It is full of action, fast paced with some rather graphic violence in parts. The other great part about it, is that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes.
Although this is the second in the series there is enough information in it to be able to read as a standalone book.
Mark is my favourite character, and my favourite parts are all the descriptions of the locations, this is a part of the world I am very interested in visiting.
Highly recommended to anyone who loves spy thrillers and also to people who are interested in reading about the Middle East. I can´t wait for the next Mark Sava book. And for anyone who enjoys a good authors website this one is great, loads of extras, well worth checking out. I am looking forward to a new Sava adventure.
ARC: Advanced readers copy.
It is one of those books that you can´t put down, but you don´t want to finish as you want more.
A wonderful sequel from Dan Mayland (the first in the Mark Sava series is called The Colonel´s Mistake) it is really a joy to read a book where the action takes place in Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, something a little different for me, and the best of all are the photos of some of the places that Mark visits on the website of Dan Mayland, they really bring the book to life, wonderful. I wish more authors would do this. There are also a bunch of maps in the extras section which also help understand the area.
The author clearly has a great knowledge of the area and the descriptions of the cities and areas make you feel as if you are actually there, wandering around yourself. It is a nice easy book to read and for those who are unsure of the technical words in the book there is a glossary online at the authors website. It is full of action, fast paced with some rather graphic violence in parts. The other great part about it, is that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes.
Although this is the second in the series there is enough information in it to be able to read as a standalone book.
Mark is my favourite character, and my favourite parts are all the descriptions of the locations, this is a part of the world I am very interested in visiting.
Highly recommended to anyone who loves spy thrillers and also to people who are interested in reading about the Middle East. I can´t wait for the next Mark Sava book. And for anyone who enjoys a good authors website this one is great, loads of extras, well worth checking out. I am looking forward to a new Sava adventure.
ARC: Advanced readers copy.
May 14, 2013
The Leveling by Dan Mayland
Mark Sava, John Decker and Daria Buckingham, an unlikely trio of heroes, fall into another world-changing crisis with a bang!
Decker is a navy seal who now works for CAIN. Assigned to track activities between Iran and China, he knows that following the money will flush out the key players, but he doesn’t expect to get caught. Deep in trouble, he sends cryptic photos to Mark and Daria hoping they can decipher the clues and save him. Mark, a retired spy, is now a college professor in Baku. He escapes an assassination attempt only to discover that his apartment has been destroyed, his almost completed manuscript gone, and he’s being expelled from Azerbaijan. His only clue is the strange photos from Decker. Daria, out of the CIA, is now a freelance operative working undercover and spying on the Chinese. Mark hunts her down and they examine the photos from Decker. Realizing that he is missing, they work together to find out who kidnapped him, what he was working on, and what went wrong.
The Leveling, the second Mark Sava adventure, starts a few months after “The Colonel’s Mistake”. Using the political and religious unrest in the region as a backdrop, Dan provides a vivid image of life and the corruption that infuses Iran and Turkmenistan. The story whirls you between countries, from mountain peaks to street bazaars, vividly describing a world foreign to most of his readers. A great spy thriller, The Leveling compels us to keep reading. Needing to know what’s on the next page made it difficult to put down. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to his next installment.
Mark Sava, John Decker and Daria Buckingham, an unlikely trio of heroes, fall into another world-changing crisis with a bang!
Decker is a navy seal who now works for CAIN. Assigned to track activities between Iran and China, he knows that following the money will flush out the key players, but he doesn’t expect to get caught. Deep in trouble, he sends cryptic photos to Mark and Daria hoping they can decipher the clues and save him. Mark, a retired spy, is now a college professor in Baku. He escapes an assassination attempt only to discover that his apartment has been destroyed, his almost completed manuscript gone, and he’s being expelled from Azerbaijan. His only clue is the strange photos from Decker. Daria, out of the CIA, is now a freelance operative working undercover and spying on the Chinese. Mark hunts her down and they examine the photos from Decker. Realizing that he is missing, they work together to find out who kidnapped him, what he was working on, and what went wrong.
The Leveling, the second Mark Sava adventure, starts a few months after “The Colonel’s Mistake”. Using the political and religious unrest in the region as a backdrop, Dan provides a vivid image of life and the corruption that infuses Iran and Turkmenistan. The story whirls you between countries, from mountain peaks to street bazaars, vividly describing a world foreign to most of his readers. A great spy thriller, The Leveling compels us to keep reading. Needing to know what’s on the next page made it difficult to put down. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to his next installment.
August 24, 2013
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This is the second book in the Mark Sava series. Sava is a former CIA station chief who continues to be drawn into the world of spycraft despite his retirement. Before reading this book, I read The Colonel's Mistake so that I could understand The Leveling in context. Having read the first book was helpful in understanding the relationship among the main characters (Sava, Daria Buckingham, and John Decker), but The Leveling could easily be read as a standalone novel.
Although I read a lot of books characterized as "thrillers," I don't read very many spy novels. I had some difficulty following the byzantine plot in The Colonel's Mistake; I found The Leveling much easier to follow and, therefore, more enjoyable. Thankfully, Dan Mayland, through Sava, assured me that it didn't matter if I understood how all the international plotting hung together:
"Mark began to think of all that had happened since leaving Baku, and how little he still knew about what had really been going on. The situation was too fluid, too layered, too complex. There were limits to what one washed-up spy . . . could understand. Why kill yourself trying?"
Having been given permission by the author himself to stop parsing all of the plot nuances, I was free to enjoy the development of the relationships among Sava, Daria, and Decker. They have become much more fleshed out since The Colonel's Mistake, and I look forward to seeing them again in Mayland's next Sava thriller. Dan, if you're reading this, I have entered your ARC giveaway, so feel free to move me to the top of that list!
This is the second book in the Mark Sava series. Sava is a former CIA station chief who continues to be drawn into the world of spycraft despite his retirement. Before reading this book, I read The Colonel's Mistake so that I could understand The Leveling in context. Having read the first book was helpful in understanding the relationship among the main characters (Sava, Daria Buckingham, and John Decker), but The Leveling could easily be read as a standalone novel.
Although I read a lot of books characterized as "thrillers," I don't read very many spy novels. I had some difficulty following the byzantine plot in The Colonel's Mistake; I found The Leveling much easier to follow and, therefore, more enjoyable. Thankfully, Dan Mayland, through Sava, assured me that it didn't matter if I understood how all the international plotting hung together:
"Mark began to think of all that had happened since leaving Baku, and how little he still knew about what had really been going on. The situation was too fluid, too layered, too complex. There were limits to what one washed-up spy . . . could understand. Why kill yourself trying?"
Having been given permission by the author himself to stop parsing all of the plot nuances, I was free to enjoy the development of the relationships among Sava, Daria, and Decker. They have become much more fleshed out since The Colonel's Mistake, and I look forward to seeing them again in Mayland's next Sava thriller. Dan, if you're reading this, I have entered your ARC giveaway, so feel free to move me to the top of that list!
August 17, 2014
An excellent thriller series!
What I liked: I love the setting of this series. It all takes place in states of the former Soviet Union. It's all the new countries I can't pronounce and know very little about. Basically, I love history and the way Mr. Mayland incorporates details of each country keeps me turning the pages.
That's not to say say The Leveling is a history lesson because it's much more. Thrillers done correctly will keep you not only turning the pages but desperately seeking solutions to each problem as they arise. I like my thrillers action driven but not mindless. I like to try to figure out what's happening and why. Mr. Mayland more than delivers on each score.
I enjoy that Sava isn't infallible. He makes mistakes, actually a lot. His supporting characters are younger and stronger but Sava has brains and experience. This is what makes the characters work well together. Daria and Decker fill out the main cast of characters and each brings their own specific traits into the mix.
The corruption of the government and people make me wonder. Some of the customs and rules of each country seem so archaic but believable. The descriptions are like painted pictures and leave a lasting impression.
What I didn't like: I'm not a knowledgeable political person so some of the reasoning involved in the story was a bit above my head but Mr. Mayland made me believe in the story. It felt a little convoluted but again, I believed in the premise.
This is a series I hope I will have time to keep reading. I want to find out more about each character and what happens in their lives.
Recommended!!
What I liked: I love the setting of this series. It all takes place in states of the former Soviet Union. It's all the new countries I can't pronounce and know very little about. Basically, I love history and the way Mr. Mayland incorporates details of each country keeps me turning the pages.
That's not to say say The Leveling is a history lesson because it's much more. Thrillers done correctly will keep you not only turning the pages but desperately seeking solutions to each problem as they arise. I like my thrillers action driven but not mindless. I like to try to figure out what's happening and why. Mr. Mayland more than delivers on each score.
I enjoy that Sava isn't infallible. He makes mistakes, actually a lot. His supporting characters are younger and stronger but Sava has brains and experience. This is what makes the characters work well together. Daria and Decker fill out the main cast of characters and each brings their own specific traits into the mix.
The corruption of the government and people make me wonder. Some of the customs and rules of each country seem so archaic but believable. The descriptions are like painted pictures and leave a lasting impression.
What I didn't like: I'm not a knowledgeable political person so some of the reasoning involved in the story was a bit above my head but Mr. Mayland made me believe in the story. It felt a little convoluted but again, I believed in the premise.
This is a series I hope I will have time to keep reading. I want to find out more about each character and what happens in their lives.
Recommended!!
April 13, 2013
I was lucky enough to be given an Advanced Reader's Copy of this Novel for my honest review. It is the second novel featuring retired CIA official Mark Sava, though you don't need to have read the first book to understand what is going on here.
Everything I enjoyed about the first book in the series is just as enjoyable the second time around. Just enough about the characters is continued to be revealed to keep them interesting but not overdone. The action is intense and constant. The Middle Eastern backdrop continues to provide an enjoyable setting for the series. Where this book really separates itself from it's predecessor is in the improved coherence of the plot. That's the problem with so many books in this genre: the plot is so convoluted that at times, it is hard to keep track of what is actually happening that drives the characters. Luckily, Mayland avoids that pitfull. There isn't a lot of hidden motives or shifting twists that make the plot confusing. Mayland sets out just enough of the story at first and does a great job of slowly revealing the big picture while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
I gave this book 4 stars; it is a highly enjoyable read that makes you keep reading and wishing it didn't end. I'm now hooked on the series and will eagerly anticipate what is next for Mark Sava.
Everything I enjoyed about the first book in the series is just as enjoyable the second time around. Just enough about the characters is continued to be revealed to keep them interesting but not overdone. The action is intense and constant. The Middle Eastern backdrop continues to provide an enjoyable setting for the series. Where this book really separates itself from it's predecessor is in the improved coherence of the plot. That's the problem with so many books in this genre: the plot is so convoluted that at times, it is hard to keep track of what is actually happening that drives the characters. Luckily, Mayland avoids that pitfull. There isn't a lot of hidden motives or shifting twists that make the plot confusing. Mayland sets out just enough of the story at first and does a great job of slowly revealing the big picture while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
I gave this book 4 stars; it is a highly enjoyable read that makes you keep reading and wishing it didn't end. I'm now hooked on the series and will eagerly anticipate what is next for Mark Sava.
April 5, 2013
This is the sequel to The Colonel's Mistake.It was an advanced reader's copy so still needs a final polish but is actually fairly close to a final product.
Following the events of the first book, Mark Sava has left the CIA and has become a professor at acollege in the city of Baku.After an attempt on his life, he is forced to leave the country by the Azeri government.He learns that John Decker has gotten into a situation over his head.He teams up with Daria Buckingham, who has also left the CIA, to try and find John Decker.Soon they are on the run fron Iranians, the CIA, and Chinese intelligence agents.With no back-up, they will have to pull out all of their tricks to save John and get out alive and possibly even stop a war.
This book is fast paced and filled with plenty of action and intrigue.The characters continue to grow and will keep you interested throughot the story.The author's knowledge of the area makes the book seem totally believable.
This series continues to grow and is quickly becoming one of my favorites in this genre.I would have no problem recommending this book(or the series) to any fan of spy novels.
Following the events of the first book, Mark Sava has left the CIA and has become a professor at acollege in the city of Baku.After an attempt on his life, he is forced to leave the country by the Azeri government.He learns that John Decker has gotten into a situation over his head.He teams up with Daria Buckingham, who has also left the CIA, to try and find John Decker.Soon they are on the run fron Iranians, the CIA, and Chinese intelligence agents.With no back-up, they will have to pull out all of their tricks to save John and get out alive and possibly even stop a war.
This book is fast paced and filled with plenty of action and intrigue.The characters continue to grow and will keep you interested throughot the story.The author's knowledge of the area makes the book seem totally believable.
This series continues to grow and is quickly becoming one of my favorites in this genre.I would have no problem recommending this book(or the series) to any fan of spy novels.
April 1, 2013
The Leveling is an action packed, edge-of-your-seat, suspense thriller! With incredible details on tensions in the middle-east, heart-accelerating action, and characters that are realistic and laudable, this novel is a must read!
The Leveling is a sequel to the first Mark Sava spy novel, The Colonel's Mistake, but can easily be read as a stand alone book. From the first pages, the story is gripping. The action includes a mission gone wrong, government corruption, complex political aims, and ex-CIA agents who soon find themselves on a life or death mission to save one of their own. The story is excellently written, easy to follow and exciting. The characters are dynamic, well-developed, and one cannot help but cheer for them. With incredible behind-the-scenes information, surveillance, and creativity, Mark Sava and Daria Buckingham are the last hope to save Deck.
Reading this book is an adventure and I absolutely hope that the Mark Sava spy thrillers continue! I give this book a solid 5 stars!! Excellent from start to finish!
The Leveling is a sequel to the first Mark Sava spy novel, The Colonel's Mistake, but can easily be read as a stand alone book. From the first pages, the story is gripping. The action includes a mission gone wrong, government corruption, complex political aims, and ex-CIA agents who soon find themselves on a life or death mission to save one of their own. The story is excellently written, easy to follow and exciting. The characters are dynamic, well-developed, and one cannot help but cheer for them. With incredible behind-the-scenes information, surveillance, and creativity, Mark Sava and Daria Buckingham are the last hope to save Deck.
Reading this book is an adventure and I absolutely hope that the Mark Sava spy thrillers continue! I give this book a solid 5 stars!! Excellent from start to finish!
December 15, 2016
This book was read for my 2016 Reading Challenge Around the World in 80 Books
Another fast moving, twisting and turning spy novel from Dan Mayland! Picking up 8 months after The Colonel's Mistake ends we again meet Mark & Daria deep in the midst of another international conspiracy. From Azberjian to Turkmenistan and into Iran, Mark & Daria team up for a rescue mission with the highest stakes. Mutual friend John Decker is in trouble and the Chinese & the Iranians & the Americans are about to come to blows because of it. A fast plot with high intrigue that won’t disappoint! I like this series because it’s easy to read, unpredictable, and travels through exotic locations. It’s not a deep thinking book, but it’s an entertaining ride. Looking forward to the next!
Another fast moving, twisting and turning spy novel from Dan Mayland! Picking up 8 months after The Colonel's Mistake ends we again meet Mark & Daria deep in the midst of another international conspiracy. From Azberjian to Turkmenistan and into Iran, Mark & Daria team up for a rescue mission with the highest stakes. Mutual friend John Decker is in trouble and the Chinese & the Iranians & the Americans are about to come to blows because of it. A fast plot with high intrigue that won’t disappoint! I like this series because it’s easy to read, unpredictable, and travels through exotic locations. It’s not a deep thinking book, but it’s an entertaining ride. Looking forward to the next!
June 18, 2013
I received The Leveling as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Great political spy thriller taking place in Central Asia, a battleground of many of the world's major powers (US, China, Russia). Following an attempt on his life in his adopted home of Baku, Azerbaijan, CIA administrator-turned-professor Mark Sava discovers that friend and fellow intelligence agent John "Deck" Decker has been kidnapped. Together with his, Sava's, ex, Daria Buckingham, another former spy, Sava must delve into political intrigue with international consequences, racing against time to save his friend.
The characterizations are fascinating--no Mary Sues/Stus here. The three main characters--Sava, Daria, and Becker--have real personalities with flaws to match their virtues. It's a fast read--I haven't read a lot of spy thrillers, but this one almost felt like an action movie put to page, with fast action and short chapters.
Recommended.
Great political spy thriller taking place in Central Asia, a battleground of many of the world's major powers (US, China, Russia). Following an attempt on his life in his adopted home of Baku, Azerbaijan, CIA administrator-turned-professor Mark Sava discovers that friend and fellow intelligence agent John "Deck" Decker has been kidnapped. Together with his, Sava's, ex, Daria Buckingham, another former spy, Sava must delve into political intrigue with international consequences, racing against time to save his friend.
The characterizations are fascinating--no Mary Sues/Stus here. The three main characters--Sava, Daria, and Becker--have real personalities with flaws to match their virtues. It's a fast read--I haven't read a lot of spy thrillers, but this one almost felt like an action movie put to page, with fast action and short chapters.
Recommended.
June 11, 2013
I received a copy of this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
The Leveling is the sequel to The Colonel's Mistake by Dan Mayland. It is the second Mark Sava spy thriller and can be read independently of the first book but is such a good read you will probably want to go back and read the first one if you haven't already.
This book was a quick read because the action starts from the first pages and doesn't let up until the end. The story line quickly evolves and draws you in. I found the main characters appealing and the Middle East setting to be fascinating. As well as enjoying a thrilling spy story I felt that I learned quite a bit about Middle Eastern culture and how Chinese intelligence is involved in this region.
The Leveling is well worth taking the time to read.
The Leveling is the sequel to The Colonel's Mistake by Dan Mayland. It is the second Mark Sava spy thriller and can be read independently of the first book but is such a good read you will probably want to go back and read the first one if you haven't already.
This book was a quick read because the action starts from the first pages and doesn't let up until the end. The story line quickly evolves and draws you in. I found the main characters appealing and the Middle East setting to be fascinating. As well as enjoying a thrilling spy story I felt that I learned quite a bit about Middle Eastern culture and how Chinese intelligence is involved in this region.
The Leveling is well worth taking the time to read.
April 13, 2013
I won this book from Goodreads. I had not read the previous book, but it didn't matter. The details and descriptions of the places & customs in the Middle East were extensive and interesting. The author's expertise was immediately noticeable. Several threads weave the story that comes together near the end. Realistically, I did not think that anyone, even a Navy Seal, could withstand the beatings that John Decker endured. The characters were consistent, so their actions were logical too, especially Daria's at the end. The author gets an additional star because he posted a glossary and maps on his website for both his novels!
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