Death of a Spy

Mark Sava #4

by Dan Mayland

Mark Sava is thrown into the fight of his life when an unresolved Cold War mystery involving his first love collides with a present-day Russia on the march.

Life has never been better for Mark Sava, the former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan. He's recently married, has a newborn daughter, and the launch of his spies-for-hire business in Central Asia has been a great success. Then he gets a call from the US Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia--one his employees, seventy-two-year-old Larry Bowlan, has died of a heart attack.

Bowlan was also Sava's first boss at the CIA, so Sava feels a responsibility to personally recover the remains of his friend. He hops on a flight to Tbilisi, visits the hotel room in which Bowlan died, and is shocked when he discovers an oil painting that depicts a woman he knows all too well...

So begins four of the most violent and blisteringly personal days of Sava's life as he struggles to protect his future, and the future of a country he loves, by fighting demons from his past.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Book Club, Spy Thriller, Action

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

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

Reviews

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan Mark Sava is asked to look into the death of a former mentor and friend who initially recruited him into the world of espionage. Reluctant to leave his current peaceful newlywed life he eventually agrees to travel back to Baku, Azerbaijan, a country he was banned from ever entering again. As Sava starts to uncover an extremely intricate plot his own life is put in danger as he tries to convince the Americans and other allies what is about to occur. Although Death of a Spy is Book 4 in a series, it is a standalone novel which is well written and recommended for all spy thriller enthusiasts. Definitely visit the author’s website where he has posted several notable and interesting photos of the regions depicted in this book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of "Death of a Spy" (Mark Sava #4),by Dan Mayland through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest. This is a very engaging spy thriller that I couldn't put down. I usually don't read books out of sequence, but when I won this novel, the fourth book in the series, I didn't have sufficient time to read the other novels before this one. But I did not have any difficulty following the series, it works fine as a stand alone. The setting for the novel takes place in Azerbaijan and Central Asia, not areas I know well, but the author provided detailed maps at the beginning of the novel, which I utilized.

Mark Sava is a man who left the CIA after reaching station chief status, he has started his own successful spies-for-hire business, he has recently married,and now has a daughter. Mark is suddenly notified that his ex-CIA boss and now part-time employee, Larry Bowlan has been found dead in (formerly Soviet) Georgia. A suspicious death? Mark feels responsible to recover the remains and investigate further. And he discovers so much more...

This is a well written fast-paced novel, with twists and turns around ever corner. The characters are rich and the landscape is realistic.

Death of a Spy is a must read for all readers who enjoy spy and espionage novels.

[Jo Reason · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite spy authors, actually, one of my favourite authors full stop, was kind enough to send me an ARC of his latest book: Death of a Spy. This is the fourth in the Mark Sava series and we continue on from the last book, Spy for Hire.
Mark and Daria have settled down, or have they?
I did wonder what the title meant, who was it that died or going to die, I didn´t have to wait long for the answer and from then on it is full on action and nicely paced thrills. The writing is brilliant, I have seen the author get better through his books, these are modern spy books, in the Azerbeijan, Nakhchivan, Georgia area, with superb descriptions and details of the area which I found fascinating and it brings it alive. The relationship with Daria is great, but I would have liked to have seen a little more of her in this book.
On the website danmayland.com there are photographs which give a perspective of all the places visited.
This book sees some of the past of Mark Sava, we learn a little more about him and his background. Although this is the 4th in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend starting reading from the beginning.
The title and the cover are just brilliant, automatically drawing you in.

I am already looking forward to the next Mark Sava book.
Catch up on the other books in the series.
The Colonel´s Mistake,
The Leveling,
Spy for Hire
You can also read an interview with the author Dan Mayland

[Orest Stelmach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Sava, former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan, investigates the death of his first boss and discovers a secret with devastating global implications at the crossroads of his past and the present.

Mark Sava is enjoying a peaceful life with his wife and daughter in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as much as that is possible for the owner of a spies for hire business in Central Asia. When one of his employees dies of an apparent heart attack, Sava feels compelled to investigate, for this is no ordinary hire. The deceased is the man who recruited Sava into the CIA and changed his life forever. Then, a mysterious painting at the scene of the employee’s death catapults Sava back in time and forces him to reconcile his past with the developments around him. Soon he is embroiled in a game of global misdirection, where the stakes are far higher than one man’s death.

Mr. Mayland is a certified master of credible espionage. While his biography makes mention of his travels and adventures in the Central Asian locations depicted in this and his prior books, there is no mention of any past employment in the foreign service. It is hard to believe. Death of a Spy features his trademark expertise in European and Asian geopolitics, regional conflicts, military strategies, and tradecraft. It is an instantly transportive piece of fiction that places the reader firmly in a relatively unknown and often misunderstood region of the world.

This installment of the Sava series features fascinating revelations concerning the protagonist’s background. At its core is a mysterious painting which hooks the reader from the story’s outset. What happened to its artist and why is she so important to Sava? The answers lie in the spy's origins and a past he prefers to forget. The novel’s pacing reflects the plot’s credible nature. Sava’s careful investigation precedes the discovery of a powder keg which ultimately explodes and leads to a rich and satisfying conclusion ripped from today’s headlines.

Verdict: Death of a Spy gives birth to the most satisfying Sava adventure yet.

[Doseofbella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Of A Spy (A Mark Sava Thriller)
By: Dan Mayland Pages. 333 ARC
Published by Richard Curtiss Associates, Inc. NY
Copy Courtesy of GoodReads First Read
Reviewed By: tk

Spies for Hire!

Mark Sava has everything, but a boring life. Daria his wife of six months and baby Lily are trying to enjoy their maturity leave. Mark’s plan is interrupted when Larry Bowlan, an agent and friend, is found dead in a hotel room. Although not a young man, Larry’s death takes Mark on a whirl wind of unexpected emotions from the past to bring them crashing into the present. Events will lead Mark into the dark secrets of terrorism, murder, love lost, and war.

A spy thriller that you will not be able to put down. The realism and danger are exhilarating. The characters are striking. Superior twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. Regardless if you have read the series or as a stand-alone novel, you will not be disappointed. Strongly recommended 4/5.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Life has never been better for Mark Sava, the former CIA station chief of Azerbaijan. He's recently married, has a newborn daughter, and the launch of his spies-for-hire business in Central Asia has been a great success. Then he gets a call from the US Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia--one his employees, seventy-two-year-old Larry Bowlan, has died of a heart attack.
Bowlan was also Sava's first boss at the CIA, so Sava feels a responsibility to personally recover the remains of his friend. He hops on a flight to Tbilisi, visits the hotel room in which Bowlan died, and is shocked when he discovers an oil painting that depicts a woman he knows all too well...
So begins four of the most violent and blisteringly personal days of Sava's life as he struggles to protect his future, and the future of a country he loves, by fighting demons from his past.

*3.5 stars*

I grew up reading a lot of spy/espionage - Le Carre, Forsyth, Deighton, and early Follett. I held the first three in high regard and would find it very hard to find novels that reached the same peak for me.

Reading this, I was quietly confident that it would probably be up there as a great novel. All the ingredients that I like were there: a slow-burner opening, the building of tension and suspense throughout, excellent locations and some really good political manoeuvres. All very cool and stuff that had me thinking that this could be one of the really good ones...

So, why only 3.5 stars, I hear you ask? Well, it is pretty simple, really. All the characters were too hard to like. It was like their traits were TOO flawed, like they were created to be the 'anti-spy hero' - I just found it really hard to get invested in any of them...

Overall, a great read if you love spy stories set in exotic locations.


Paul
ARH

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are looking pretty good for Mark Sava for once - recently married, with a newborn daughter and a successful business, he's enjoying his new life when he receives some unwelcome news. On assignment in Tbilisi, Georgia, Mark's former boss and current employee Larry Bowlan has died, ostensibly of a heart attack. Hopping on the next flight to Tbilisi to deal with Larry's death, he soon finds that there is more to it than an old man expiring from natural causes, however - someone has tampered with the camera and laptop Larry was using for his work on behalf of Mark's company as contracted by the CIA, the body has been swiftly embalmed to preclude the possibility of running tests back in the US and all samples taken from it during the autopsy have been disposed of, and to top it off, Mark finds a painting of a woman he once knew, back when he first became involved in the spy business decades ago, hanging in the room his friend died in.

Once again, the reader is in for a gripping, fastpaced thrillride featuring a complex conspiracy to unravel as well as a trip down memory lane as the story digs deeper than ever before into Mark Sava's past. If there are any more books in this series coming at some point, I'll definitely be there to read them.

[Chessy The Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Sava should know by now that when things seem to be going well that something will come along to change that. He’s married with a newborn daughter. His business is running smoothly or as smooth as a spy for hire business can. That is until one of his employees dies.

Mayland’s fourth and seemingly final novel in the Mark Sava Spy Novel series, Death of a Spy follows Sava as he tries to unravel the mystery surrounding his employee’s death. A painting by a woman from his past is found at the scene. Who put it there and why sends him on the most perilous adventure of his life.

Readers get to see another side of Sava that is so unexpected next to his tough CIA operative persona. He must temporarily drop back into spy mode to find the connection between the painting and a much deeper plot. Things do not go well, and he is in a fight for his life.

I hope that this is not the end, but I fear that it is. I will miss Sava and all the regulars.

5 out of 5 stars.

[Benjamin Lacson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling and suspenseful!

Great book. I hope this is not the last of Mark Sava’s series. I hope to read more of his adventures. I highly recommend this book. I could not stop reading once I got started.

[Cliff Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story. in the Series. the main character Mark Sava is interesting and convincing. Mr. Mayland has created a flawed but good man. A character that the reader can get invested in. The story was interesting and easy to read.

[Jkane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the story was great but it didn’t come together all that well. It might have been that the flashbacks were disjointed- I’m not sure. I can’t pinpoint why I didn’t feel like this was not as good as the last one.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A satisfying finale.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good story. Lots of fun! And I hit my Goodreads goal!!!

[Carolyn Meinel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all four of Dan Mayland's Mark Sava thrillers one after another, loosing much sleep in the process. Given that I haven't bought a spy novel since the '80s, and my last binge read was in 1966 (Lord of the Rings trilogy), why did I go all in on Mr. Mayland's books?

First, once the books arrived, how did he hook me into this binge read?

In the case of the last in the series, Death of a Spy, I suffered in suspense as a pair of freelance spies with their newborn baby tried to score Desitin for diaper rash while saving the world.

I kid you not. He's the first novelist I ever heard of who could make diaper rash a significant and hilarious part of the plot. As for you men who are reading this, never fear, Mayland serves up explicit violence, too.

OK, back to what motivated me to buy all four of Dan Mayland's books at once, despite my generic lack of enthusiasm for spy novels.

It was a dark and stormy night, just kidding, when I received an email from a CIA-funded research project, not kidding, to identify “superforecasters” of world events. This project was sponsored by the CIA/IARPA Office of Anticipating Surprise. Would I be willing to try my hand at forecasting world events? What the heck, thought.

Consequently, for over nine months, Dan and I and 2,998 others slugged it out to see who could forecast the best.

When the competition ended this July, with 2,805 competitors still in the game, Dan came it at #2. Darn, he beat me!

We compared our scores for each prediction and discovered that he beat me primarily thanks to his knowledge of how to predict the actions of corrupt, dangerous dictators and terrorists.

Dan says that he learned how to do this by reading books about the CIA and taking vacations in dangerous places while spending twenty years running an itty bitty real estate company.

Or perhaps – just guessing – instead he spent twenty years with the CIA and retired with tons of knowledge that he only can share thorough his novels.

Which is it? You read. You decide.

[Dolly Sandor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to like hero who isn't a "super" human/spy!!

What I liked: I've been reading this series since I got the first for free. There's something about the hero, Mark Sava, that keeps me coming back for more. He's human, he's relatable and he makes mistakes that everyone would make. His cast of supporting characters is all too human too. How about that. An author who can write a good story without over playing the hero angle.

Mr Mayland tells a great story. I like the way he portrays his characters. They all have good points and bad points. I think I've said this before; this author can paint a picture of Eastern Europe that makes you feel like you're really there. I'm a history buff but never have delved into the section of the world Mr Mayland writes about. He made me curious enough to do a bit of research and his descriptions seem to be spot on. He doesn't pull any punches with the corruption running rampant either. Even the most likeable characters have an angle to play.

Death of a Spy took place over the span of 4 days and they were grueling days for Sava. He started out to do a very simple thing, recover the body of one of his investigators and it turns into a whole big thing.

While this is the fourth book in this series, the characters are still growing and developing, mainly because the author keeps putting them in circumstances they've never dealt with before.

What I didn't like: I didn't write the review for Death of a Spy right away and sometimes when that happens, I forget what he book is about. Not the case here. I guess what I'm saying is, there was nothing not to like in this book!

Overall, a very complete, compelling story. I hope to read more about Mark Sava and his exploits!!

Recommended!!!!

[Novel Destination · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me first thank the author, Dan Mayland, for sending me this book through a Goodreads contest.
The cover art is striking and strongly relates to the storyline. I also truly appreciated the maps included and referred to them several times as I read the novel. Not because I had to so I could make sense of the events but because it helped me to follow the travels of the characters as the events unfolded. Azerbaijan and Central Asia are not areas I know well.
The book is a well-written spy thriller which I could not seem to put down. If I did not work or sleep, I could have finished it in one reading.
Mark Sava is a multi-faceted and interesting character. A man who left the CIA after reaching station chief status, he has started his own successful spies-for-hire business, he has recently married (his wife, Daria is also ex-CIA) and now has a daughter, Lila. As Mark is considering his happy life with his small family, including the fact he has always had a balcony wherever he has lived, and his pleasure in growing tomato plants, he is notified that his ex-CIA boss and now part-time employee, Larry Bowlan has been found dead. The suspicious circumstances mean Mark is going to have to check things out.
There are many twists and turns in this novel. The characters---even the "bad guys"---have some unexpected depth.
The #1 thing I appreciated is that while the characters might have access to many incredible technologically advanced spy tools, the author did not use them when he could get the same things accomplished by giving the characters more common items (throw-away cell phones, home-made lock-picks,etc.)"to get the job done."

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced readers copy of the latest book in the Mark Sava series. While it's the fourth book in the series, you do NOT need to read the other 3 before this one. Sure, they provide background of characters and are fun books themselves, but this book can be read as a stand alone novel. Small spoilers might follow.

Everything I enjoyed about the previous books is present in this book. The fast paced action, the unique settings (Georgia and Azerbaijan), the intriguing plot, the resourceful characters. Mayland has really settled into a comfortable groove with his series. The story follows the investigation into a death that reveals the existence of a impending invasion with potential worldwide implications. While the ending is wrapped a little bit too nicely/conveniently, it's a thrilling read.

For those that have read the other books, I have one thing I like and dislike about how the stories progress. I dislike how underutilized Daria is in this novel. She has been almost completely defanged. She was one of the more interesting characters in the previous books, but her role in this book was minimal. Hopefully in the next novel we get to see deeper into her character. What I really like though, is how we see our Sava grow and develop in each book. It's not the traditional mission after mission after mission that is seen in so many books of similar genre. Sava actually has a life and life experiences that affect how he does his job. It's nice to see him grow with each book.

I gave the book 4 stars; it's another fast-paced, action-packed, fun read.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of a Spy is an exciting, action packed novel that provides a fascinating glimpse into other cultures and into the history of the lead character in this series, Mark Sava.

When a fellow spy and friend of Mark's ends up dying in suspicious circumstances, Mark goes to claim the body and investigate. What he uncovers, however, is much more than he bargained for. With major world powers at odds, and a covert operation going down, anyone who accidentally stumbles into the plan is marked for death. Mark will be forced to decide between returning safely to his family or putting his life on the line to prevent an international disaster. In addition to facing dangerous military operatives, Mark also comes face to face with painful facts from his past.

This novel was a great sequel to the earlier books in this series. The characters have gotten more domesticated compared with the earlier books, however, when a mystery surfaces, Mark Sava the spy for hire cannot resist uncovering the truth. I think this book reads best after reading the previous novels and really understanding the characters and their history.

The plot is exciting and exceptionally well done. The scenes are packed with adrenaline pumping action and I am always impressed by Mark Sava's cleverness as a spy. I also really enjoyed the glimpse into foreign lands and the complex government workings. Death of a Spy is a captivating book that is almost impossible to put down! Definitely a must read for all readers who enjoy spy, espionage, and action packed novels!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met this author at a conference and thought I’d give one of his books a test-drive. Quite engaging. Glad I read it. Especially intriguing was the setting—countries near and around the Caspian Sea: cities in Azerbaijan and its remote state Nakhchivan, Tbilisi (Georgia), and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). Any book with maps at the front tells me the author has taken care to keep readers oriented. Sometimes it where you are really matters.

The protagonist, Mark Sava, a former CIA station chief in Azerbaijan is living in Kyrgyzstan, running a spies-for-hire business, when a former mentor and colleague is found dead in Tbilisi. This is something he has to take care of and should be an easy deal—contact the family, get the body on the way back to the States, “do this right,” he tells his wife. But once in the dead man’s hotel room, Sava knows something is seriously wrong. This was a hit, one whose roots are somewhere in his own past.

Soon his errand of mercy blossoms into a full-blown catastrophe involving Russian spies, a mysterious new Nakhchivan airfield, Sava’s former lover, and security officials from Azerbaijan who must stay a step ahead of their country’s own deteriorating politics.

Mayland has spent considerable time in the region where his Mark Sava thrillers are set (this is the fourth). His website includes “extras,” more maps and photos of places featured in this book. His dedication to authenticity has been rewarded by glowing reviews and Amazon best-seller status in the espionage category in both the US and UK.

[Paul Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller, from what I gather, is the fourth in a series, but not having read the previous ones didn’t really get in the way.
It amuses me that this author’s views toward Baku and Bishkek are exactly opposite of mine. He loves Baku and hates Bishkek, whereas I seriously loathe Baku and, while not exactly loving Bishkek, the countryside around it is spectacular, a million times better than the ecological devastation that takes up large swaths of Azerbaijan.
From that you might assume his places are very authentic, and you’d be right; not that I recognize most of them, but I can see them in my mind, fitting in with the city in question. The thing about tea in Azerbaijan is so true as well.
The spycraft is also excellent. The politics are current, with mention of Russia taking over the Crimea. Did not get a good sense of the geography in the final battle, though; would have liked better descriptions of the areas, both inside the hotel and out with the tanks.
There were some moments where the writing failed to engage me, seemed a bit amateurish, but those were few and far between. My only wish was for more of the wife; there’s little of her after he takes the case, but enough for me to want to read the previous stories, to see Action Girl. . . in action.
A solid 4/5

[Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win an advanced readers copy of this book, but couldn't get around to reading it until now. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. When I started to novel I quickly realized this was a later book in a series, but it could easily stand alone. The plot was exciting and the setting was much different than any book I've read before. I loved Mark's relationship with his family, and how he just had that sarcastic spark in him. The ending wasn't anticipated for me. It wasn't until the end that it was revealed what was actually going on, unlike most books that have a lot of foreshadowing. The one complaint I have about this book is it was sometimes difficult to keep track of who was narrating in the chapter, especially if you didn't check the heading, but still not that big of a deal. I now want to go and get the first few books so I can learn all there is about the Mark Sava trilogy. As much as I would like for Mark to be with his family, I really hope there's another book coming out soon.

[Sara Canny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows you the full life of a spy. It's not the glamorous James Bond of a spy, but the real slower paced sneaking around. Not to say this book didn't get exciting, but that wasn't until most of the way through the book.

The main thing that got me about this book is that I didn't really understand a lot of the politics mentioned in the story. Granted that it could be that I live smack dab in the middle of the US and that's not something I hear about on a regular basis. However Dan did a really good job of describing the relations between the countries so that by the end I had a decent idea of what was going on.

All in all this was a pretty good book. I had a bit of a hard time getting into it but after I did I enjoyed it very much.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my review which I freely and honestly give.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find more reviews Mademoisellesnow Blog

This is the fourth book in the series but you don’t need to have read the first three to start reading this one. This can be read as a completely standalone book. They’ve provided a brief background of the characters so you won’t be completely lost with it.

This is the first time reading something by this author and I was pleasantly surprised on how much I loved this book. I enjoyed the plot, the pace and how the investigation was taken out. I loved the main character, Mark Sava, I felt that he was very human in a way that he was very relatable. He wasn’t perfect; he made mistakes and learnt from them. I felt that the author did well with the supporting characters as well. They were all very relatable and human.

[Michael Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

For reasons of narrative purity (or just plain OCD), I usually don't read books out of sequence, but I was lucky to score a signed copy of Death of a Spy in a recent Goodreads giveaway. Which is to say that I knew nothing about Mark Sava's previous exploits in the other three novels (and that worked out just fine as they can all, apparently, stand on their own). Suffice it to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the plot, the pacing, and by the character, himself, as he investigated the death of a colleague in (formerly Soviet) Georgia. Mayland's writing is highly efficient and the exotic locales across Central Asia were clearly rendered with the precision of first-hand experience. I often found it difficult to put this book down.

[Jess Tamayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to win a copy of 'Death of a Spy' through the Goodreads giveaway contests and was even more excited to dive into it.


I read it as a standalone novel, which was fine, I could follow the storyline perfectly.



At the beginning, you will find pretty cool maps, of where the story is based, and they come in pretty handy throughout the story. I was pretty busy when I started reading, and decided it was best of I read a chapter per week, which didn't work out since I could barely stop once I started.


it's definitely one of those books that make you jump up and down once stiff starts getting goooood. It's very well written, and flows out perfectly.


kudos to Mr. Dan Mayland, Death of a Spy was definitely worth the read.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex CIA station chief Mark Sava is investigating the death of his spy mentor who has died in Tblisi. This story starts in Georgia but is mostly set in Azerbaijan. As with the earlier Sava novels the story rather zips around the Central Eurasia countries. He is now married, he and his wife have just had a daughter and they are living in Kyrgyzstan after both were deported from Azerbaijan a country he particularly had grown to love. This could be said to be standard fare about Russian intrigue in Eurasia but it fits nicely with the narrative of Putin's recent incursion into Ukraine. It is also the inclusion of a back story of how Sava originally came to join the CIA that adds greatly to the spy/thriller element.

[Janice Samson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mix of personality traits

This is my fourth Mark Sava novel, and I like the way his personality has evolved. In the beginning of the book we see the new Mark, caring husband and new father. He is reluctant to go on a mission when he's supposed to be taking family time with Daria and their new daughter, but he quickly falls back into doing the job at which he excels.

Mark meets old allies while carrying out his mission, and he discovers what happened to his former girlfriend after the last time he'd seen her. The pace of the book is good and exposes the reader to politics in a less familiar area of the world. It's a good read if you've read previous Mark Sava books, but you don't feel that you're missing part of the story if this is your first.

[Joyce Ferrante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great action-packed gripping novel and this book did not let me down! Mark Sava is on the job again as a spy for hire. He leaves his wife and new daughter to investigate the death of his first boss. The maps at the beginning help to locate Mark as he travels in foreign countries to accomplish his goal. Death of a Spy is engaging and exciting from beginning to end. I had a hard time putting it down once I started reading. I highly recommend this book if you love action, adventure and spy novels.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually enjoy spy novels. How I found this series was by browsing a Goodreads review of Dan Mayland's for another author.

This is what I will measure other spy novels/series by, should I happen to chance upon them. Big shoes to fill! I feel like Mark and Daria are close friends now. Amazing, funny, gripping page-turner! I loved every page; every operation in every book. A fantastic series...even for those of us with no experience reading this type of book. I gave it 5 stars merely because I have no option to give more...

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political Espionage

Mark Savage is now married with a newborn . Not exactly a typical image of a former CIA spy and current Head of an Espionage company.
A former boss and mentor has been killed. The CIA wants Saca to check on it. The dead operative's CI had also been murdered.
Once he arrives in Azerbaijan he soon realizes the situation is way more complicated that involved all sorts of countries such as Israel, Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Mark finds he is just too old for this.