Dead Drop

Handler #2

by M.P. Woodward, Jon Lindstrom (Narrator)

International nuclear espionage turns allies into enemies in this electrifying thriller from the author of The Handler.

Nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran have reached a crisis point. The new American administration is determined to move ahead, but there are several stumbling blocks, not the least of which is Lieutenant Colonel Kasem Khalidi, the former Iranian Quds Force intelligence officer the CIA has hidden away in one of its safe houses.

As always, John and Meredith Dale are caught in the middle. Mossad—the Israeli intelligence agency—wants Meredith's help to find a suspected cache of Quds tactical nukes, while John is in a desperate race to keep Kasem one step ahead of an Iranian hit squad.

They are pawns in an international chess game, and any player knows you cannot capture the king without sacrificing some pawns.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Espionage

Audible Audio

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

M.P. Woodward is the NYT bestselling author of the Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan Jr. books (SHADOW STATE, LINE OF DEMARCATION, and TERMINAL VELOCITY). His latest war fiction thriller RED TIDE, A NOVEL OF THE NEXT PACIFIC WAR comes out 9/16/25. He has also authored the Handler CIA espionage series from Penguin Random House (THE HANDLER and DEAD DROP). He served as a Naval Intelligence officer before transitioning to a career in tech.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Drop by M.P. Woodward is an exhilarating and suspenseful spy novel featuring Meredith Morris-Dale, a CIA case officer and John Dale, Meredith’s ex-husband. This second book in the Handler series picks up two months after book one ended. Nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran are underway. There are several obstacles including the Iranian intelligence officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kasem Khalidi, whom the Central Intelligence Agency has in one of its safe houses. The Israeli intelligence agency is determined to eliminate any threat to their country. John and Meredith are caught in the middle.

Meredith is strong, resourceful, self-sufficient, and a well-respected leader. Readers get to see her character change and grow as events unfold. While she is the main character, multiple points of view are used effectively to give the perceptions of the other characters and their situations. Readers gradually gain knowledge of how each character connects to the story line and each other. This adds depth and complexity. Once again, there is a handy character list at the beginning of the book.

The premise of the story felt all too real to me, making it thought-provoking and believable. From the shocking prologue to the tension-filled middle to the action-filled conclusion, this story captivated me. The author has created an adrenaline-fueled work of spy fiction with plenty of action and thrills. This well-written novel has an absorbing plot that builds suspense and is memorable. It features deception, trust, deaths, political maneuvering, and espionage. Blending these with details of the political hierarchy within the CIA, Iran’s military structure, and Israel’s intelligence community makes for a spellbinding tale.

The author is an excellent storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat and rapidly turning the pages. He balanced the suspense aspects of the novel against the intrigue and action scenes. There are plot twists that provide some startling moments in the story. The tradecraft felt authentic and this is likely due to the author’s intelligence background. The novel takes readers from Virginia to Israel to Lebanon. The world-building was improved in this novel versus book one. Everyone has agendas, but which ones succeed and which ones fail?

Overall, this book was intense, briskly paced, suspenseful, and a powerful page-turner. This novel should delight those readers that enjoy spy thrillers that have strong male and female characters, intense fight scenes, and an absorbing plot. If you are looking for action, drama, and tension, this book will provide it. A few threads could provide story lines for future novels. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

Berkley Publishing Group and M.P. Woodward provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 23, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

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My 4.15 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Jeremy Peers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two books written by M.P. Woodward; two homeruns. Dead Drop, the follow-up to his debut The Handler, picks up a few months after John Dale's mission inside Iran (I don't want to give spoilers if people haven't read The Handler). The nuclear negotiations with Iran are progressing despite Iran believing the U.S. was responsible for the raid but can't prove it. The President wants the deal signed. The mullahs want the sanctions lifted. So everyone is singing Kumbaya and happy. Everyone - that is - except Israel and The Mossad. Pissed would be an understatement. The Mossad is arguably the most feared intelligence agency in the world. Similar capabilities as the CIA and utterly ruthless, The Mossad's mission is the survival of the Israel and the Jewish people and will do whatever is necessary and no one stand in their way. Including the United States.

There is nothing I don't like about this series. It is unmistakable Woodward is well-versed in which he writes. His characters are complex, the writing and ideas are audacious, and it will at times hit you in the feels.. The way Woodward weaves the threads to bring everything together was masterful. Every time I thought he would go right he would zag left. Part spy thriller, part family drama, part mystery but a 100% banger. Dead Drop has my highest recommendation.

Thank you to M.P. Woodward, Berkley, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing an advanced copy of Dead Drop!

[Ross Sidor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well-plotted, topical, character driven spy thriller that picks up right where M.P. Woodward's previous book "The Handler" left off. Despite the up-to-date story and contemporary tradecraft and technology, this book still feels more like an old-school spy novel with nuanced characters, shades of gray moral ambiguity, and layered plotting and counter-plotting from the various players. The author's portrayal of the Israeli and Iranian characters are especially well done and atypical to genre stereotypes. There's still action, but it's of the more low-key, realistic, and grounded variety. Why "The Handler" didn't seem to receive the same widespread popularity as "Damascus Station" is a mystery to me, but this author is comparable to David McCloskey, Daniel Silva, or Charles Cumming as a writer of realistic, gripping spy novels.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place not long after the first book. There are ongoing nuclear talks going on with lran and they seem to be going well. Mossad is unhappy with this and are still hitting Iranian scientists.

The Handler, Meredith and her ex-husband John are involved with some interesting side events.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done. Complex plot. Accurate depiction of Beirut and what it’s like there. Loved the humor intermixed with the action. Very entertaining, which is what I was looking for.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

CIA agents Meredith Morris-Dale and her ex-husband John are once again called in to service. Nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran have reached an impasse. The new American administration wants to move forward, and Iran wants the sanction lifted, but there is a roadblock, Lieutenant Colonel Kasem Kahlidi , an Iranian intelligence officer and US defector. The CIA hoped to turn and use him by returning him to Irani. Now he is a highly valued target.

The Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran’s nuclear weapons. They want Meredith’s help finding the lead Iranian rocket scientist, while John is desperate to keep Khalidi one step ahead of an Iranian hit squad.


DEAD DROP is another suspenseful and intriguing spy thriller from the author of The Handler. The story is complicated, tense, and fast-moving. The writing is good and demonstrates the author’s knowledge of the intelligence community.

There is a huge cast of characters, with Meredith and John’s leading the pack. Their characters were well-developed, and they rapidly propel the narrative. A plethora of emotions, angst, fear, adrenaline, and bravery come through on the pages.

Author M.P. Woodward is a veteran of both US intelligence ops and the entertainment industry. As a naval intelligence officer with the US Pacific Command, he scripted US war game exercises in the Middle East. In multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf and the Far East, he worked alongside US Special Forces, CIA, and NSA. His knowledge comes thru in this story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Berkley
Published May 23, 2023
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[BookTrib.com]

Delve into the world of intrigue and suspense with DEAD DROP, the heart-pounding, action-packed sequel to M.P. Woodward’s explosive debut, The Handler!

Read the full review on BookTrib.com

[Mister Sosotris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Kaye Publicity for sending me an advance copy of this novel!

This is a great read! It’s slick, well-paced, smart, and has an engaging cast of characters.

Continuing from the first in the series, Dead Drop sees Meredith Dale investigating rumours of stockpiles of tactical nuclear weapons while her ex-husband John is trying to protect a former Iranian intelligence officer from assassination.

Woodward has worked for US Intelligence in the past, so the nitty gritty aspects of the politics and operations feel very authentic. And I really appreciate how he’s able to navigate all of that deftly while still telling a good story.

Layered in amongst the spycraft and complex politics is the relationship of Meredith and John. These two have such good chemistry and believable depth, that I would have imagined this was the fifth book in a series rather than the second. Their personalities jump off the page, and you really care about each of their stories. Woodward is so good at character work. The way they interact with everyone around them feels genuine. These aren’t just audience stand-ins; they really feel compelling and interesting. And the banter between the two is just perfection.

I had a ton of fun reading this. It can be read as a standalone, but I really want to go back and read the first book, The Handler, and get more of Meredith and John’s backstory. John feels very much the reckless action hero (though grounded in the real world) while Meredith is the brilliant secret agent type, and they are both so much fun to read.

Definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a bit since I read a spy thriller, and now I'm wondering why I got away from the genre. Needless to say, I haven't read the first Handler book, but now that I've met these characters, I want to know more about them. That doesn't mean this one can't be read as a standalone. As far as I'm concerned, it works well as a standalone - at least, I didn't feel like I was lost at any point. The story is fast-paced, and the writing draws you in and holds on tight. It's the kind of book that makes you want to read just one more chapter before going to sleep, then you find that you've been up long past bedtime reading another and another chapter because you're hooked. There's plenty of intrigue to keep you guessing, and M.P. Woodward is certainly worth checking out. I've thoroughly enjoyed this one and the only thing left is to read the debut that started it all and introduced these terrific characters. If you like a good spy thriller, this one should definitely make your TBR.

[Joe Lucia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved The Handler. It was fantastic. Dead Drop was....not nearly as compelling. The plot was far more scattered, the goals of the primary agencies were murkier, and the characters seemed much less fleshed out.

I thought this was a real slog to get through, and my enthusiasm for the series as a whole has been blunted.

[Michael Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting novel. The title was not reflective of an actual dead Drop. MY favorite character was Maya. She was Mossad and lethal. There were so many people being spied upon. It seems almost impossible to keep a workable cover. The Iranians seem to be developing a nuclear capable missile. Scientists are often the targets of assassinations. It seems like these same things are happening in real life. The husband and wife team, the Dale's, are thorough. There is distrust from a previous dalliance. Awesome story.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Drop Dead" by M.P. Woodward is a spy vs. spy novel presenting how spies deceive one's enemies, friends & superiors. Iran is plotting with Hezbollah, in Lebanon, to build supersonic rockets that could carry radiolytic bombs into Israel. This occurs during negotiations between world powers led by the US with Iran to limit their nuclear expansion. The first third to half of the book is slow & wordy. Woodward uses too many acronyms & jargon confusing the story. Characters running spy agencies in the US, Israel, Lebanon & Iran are portrayed as self-absorbed bureaucrats wanting to believe their own BS instead of following the data. Meredith Morris-Dale, a CIA case officer and her ex-husband retired CIA agent John Dale are trying to turn an Iranian intelligence officer to spy for the US, Lieutenant Colonel Kasem Kahlidi & provide intelligence regarding the rockets. Mossad thru Maya Shaheen, messes up their op because they also want this intelligence. John worked with Mossad in the past, Meredith doesn’t like Maya because she erroneously thought John and Maya had an affair. Yes, spy couples don't believe or trust one another similarly with agencies & their agents, the world of deception taints all. 2.5 stars.

[Monique Snyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Drop offers readers a gripping narrative that thrives on suspense and uncertainty. It eschews relentless action in favor of an intricate chess match between world-class intelligence organizations. The story challenges readers to question the moral boundaries of the characters’ actions, blurring the line between right and wrong. At every turn, it keeps readers guessing who is manipulating whom in this captivating game of cat and mouse.

Woodward’s storytelling prowess is evident in the meticulous character development, the perfectly paced plot and the overall narrative excellence. It effortlessly ticks all the boxes for an unforgettable thriller experience. M.P. Woodward has established himself as a formidable force in the genre, and readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment in this gripping series.

[KK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, solid second entry in the series!

Plot summary for future reference and review: Khalidi escapes CIA custody and John tries to track him down. Meredith needs to find Khalidi because he can verify information about a potential weapon that Iran has that they could use against Israel. Mossad gets tangled up in their op because they also want to find Khalidi, too. Maya, who John worked with in the past, is there and Meredith doesn’t like her because she erroneously thought John and Meredith had an affair. In the end, Maya dies due to a truck bomb, Khalidi is inserted back into Iran as a CIA spy, and John is offered a job back at the CIA. Remaining questions: Iran is trying to use Rance as their pawn. Will they succeed? Will John go back to the CIA? Will Meredith and John reconcile? What will happen with Dil, Maya’s niece?

[Jak60 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Woodward's sophomore book marks a significant step up in overall quality compared to hos debut novel (The Handler). This particularly applies to its plot, pleasantly complex and populated by a well constructed series of twists and turns.
The Middle-East setting, a plot revolving around the diplomatic intricacies of the Iran nuclaer deal negotiations and the triangle of CIA-Mossad-Iranian intelligence (instead of the usual suspects, ie the Rissian thugs) conjures up contemporary relevance and originality.
The author's main weakness is still at character development level; especially one of the key protagonists, John Dale, looks like a misfit, as if we found James Bond as the hero in a Le Carré novel.
In any case, I'll be interested in the third book of the series.

[Lorri · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times, this novel left me breathless! The action was constant, as were the twists and turns. I can easily visualize Dead Drop as a movie.

I won this Kindle book in a Goodreads giveaway. Goodreads actually suggested that I enter the giveaway for this particular book. I was skeptical, as I don’t typically read thrillers and hadn’t read the first book in this series. When I saw that the novel includes a glossary of intelligence-related terms and abbreviations, I was concerned that I would be lacking in the basic vocabulary of espionage novels. However, the plot and characters drew me in right away; it was a good read.

[Stacia Pache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thriller! The authenticity of the main characters set against a realistic view of today’s geopolitical environment make this a must read. I loved the dynamic between CIA’s Meredith Morris-Dale and John Dale, her ex-husband and retiring CIA operative. M.P. Woodward’s exceptional descriptions, creative storytelling, and fast paced action made this a book that I couldn’t put down. Lots of twists and turns along the way. If you are into modern spy thrillers, this book is for you. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

[Jessica Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a great book!

This is the second book in the Dale/ Morris-Dale series of books, and it was a solid follow up to the first book. More cerebral, slower paced, and less action, but a good book. These books I think more accurately portray the selfish nature of intelligence work, and the constant need to promote the needs of many over those of a few. The book can be read as a standalone, but a reader would benefit from having read the books in order, especially as it pertains to the character Rance.

[Howard H · Rating 1 out of 5]

When the author told us in error that Jordan borders the sea of Galilee, he confirmed what I was already feeling about the book: It was time to stop. No matter that the plot was right out of my wish list, the words he devoted to descriptions of ordinary spycraft or to technical specifications were too annoying. Even worse were long passages of dialogue between characters of limited interest. It's one thing when your primary protagonists are talking. But using long, no-account exchanges between secondary characters to drive the narrative is a poor way to tell a story. Then he got basic geography wrong. Enough. DNF.

HH

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very engaging series that is written in an old-school espionage style that I found refreshing to encounter in a modern context. I really like the way Woodward has captured the essence of the classic spy thriller while still maintaining a contemporary sensibility both in the characterizations and the situations encountered.

This is a solid series...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in a series and I recommend reading “The Handler“ first. In this book, ex-spouses and spies John and Meredith are once again dealing with Iran and the attempt to keep them from having nuclear capabilities. Complicating things are Mossad and their information that Hezbollah is close to having a nuclear missile. This is a fun and clever read and although quite detailed and a little wordy, I enjoyed it and await more. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 3.75/5

[Steven Netter · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books



Make sure to check out the full review

[Sarah Dressler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am drawn to CIA-esque novels and I have read The Handler, so when I was offered a chance to read Dead Drop, M.P. Woodward’s new addition to The Handler series. Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for my copies of DEAD DROP!

The novel follows John and Meredith Dale as they navigate multiple thrilling moments of capture and negotiations as the US moves forward in Nuclear negotiations.

I like the way Woodward builds characters that are moles, multiple perspectives, Meredith’s belief in John’s innocence, as well as her ability to craft and orchestrate the BEST moments, the most unlikely characters.

The audio narration is well done- I loved going between the book and the audio- it was a great addition to the storyline!

If you like spy thrillers, you will love this series. This novel can be read as a standalone, but if this is your jam, start with The Handler and move on into this continuation with Meredith and John.

[Rschulte30me.com · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry but as much as enjoyed the plot the relationship between John, Meredith,and Maya was so annoying ended up swearing never again. The oh I'm sure he had an affair simpering by the supposedly highly intelligent woman was disgusting and his putting up with it was even worse. The best line in their relationships that was actually reasonable was when John said she answered you didn't.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strap yourself into this gyroscopic novel of U.S.-Israeli-Iranian spycraft, statecraft, nuclear threats, strong, fierce women and men, outliers, backchannel diplomacy, hit squads, fierce nationalism, complex characters, love in lavish lands—oh, this W.P. Woodward tells a tale rivaling Scheherazade!

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked up Woodward after he kicked butt filling in for Tom Clancy and I really enjoyed THE HANDLER.
#2 in the Hnadler series was /is even better.
Lots of excitement and a great energy as we figure out what is going on...might be happening soon.

Look forward to the next HERE and in Clancy -Ryan world.

[T. Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, action packed, very fun follow up to The Handler! Introducing Israeli intel tech and talent gave Dead Drop extra punch. Can't wait to see what happens next with Meredith and John. Perfect summer read!

[Jack Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this may have been my first, it won't be my last! Loved reading this book and it was the perfect summer thriller for me! Great characters, story telling, suspense and surprise... Can't wait for the next one!

[Ana Maria Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the 1st one

Really liked this second part, even do I wanted to smack Meth more than a couple of times.
Loved John as always, he is the only real and honest person in this spy games.

[Giora Gil-Ad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!

This is a must read book.
Realistic, fast paced and true to life as can be.
Some of what’s written is probably playing out as we speak!
This is for sure at the level of Daniel Silva.
Great work Woodward.
Hope there’s a next already.