They trained him to be invisible. Untouchable. Unquestioning. Now, he’s the only one who can stop them.
When a high-stakes mission in Brussels explodes into chaos, elite operative Ethan Keller wakes with a bullet wound and a horrifying the agency he’s served without question has gone dark on him.
Now he’s on the run, chased by the very team he once called brothers and racing to stop a political assassination that could ignite global conflict. His only ally? A determined CIA agent who suspects there’s more to Ethan’s story than even he understands.
But as the clock ticks and the body count rises, Ethan begins to uncover a conspiracy far larger, and deadlier than anything he ever imagined.
Sometimes the real enemy isn’t the one aiming a gun at your back. It’s the voice that told you where to aim yours.
Fans of The Bourne Identity, Reacher, and The Gray Man will love this pulse-pounding debut thriller, a gritty, high-stakes espionage ride packed with twisty conspiracies, cinematic action, and a hero with nothing left to lose.
J.A. Foster crafts high-intensity espionage thrillers where psychological depth collides with battlefield realism. His firsthand experience as a decorated combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm—serving in a 1,000-man rapid-deployment Cavalry unit that spearheaded the VII Corps invasion and engaged Iraq’s elite Republican Guard—lends visceral authenticity to his action.
The geopolitical stakes and European settings in his novels are powerfully shaped by Foster’s years living in Germany during the final, tense moments of the Cold War and the historic fall of the Berlin Wall. This formative period, marked by shifting alliances and collapsing regimes, continues to inform his intricate plots. Further enriching his character development, Foster holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Under the name James Anderson Foster, he is also an Award-winning audiobook narrator of over 500 titles, including Marvel’s Doctor Strange and the Firefly franchise, and is the author of multiple Urban Fantasy series.
This is one action-packed CIA thriller. It will grip you from the first page and continues with nonstop action, conspiracy, betrayals, and plot twists. The author's descriptive writing, especially the descriptions of the weapons, gear, and tech was fantastic. Reading this book was like a movie playing in my head and I was living the story through the main character's POV. This is perfect for fans of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. 10/10 recommend.
Received through BookSirens and this was a great read! Very well paced. Love the suspense/thriller vibes I got with the MC being unable to trust anyone. Is a great start to a series. Will be reading the next books as they come out! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Double Blind - A Ghost Operative Thriller By J.A. Foster Review by Olliver Frost
At first glance, the mission is simple: deliver a case, complete the task, and move on. But what unfolds is anything but routine. The protagonist, a highly trained agent, quickly finds himself targeted in a deadly pursuit that forces him to question everything he thought he knew. As the story progresses, the agent realizes that he’s been deceived by those he trusted most. Fighting to stay alive while uncovering a complex web of lies, he becomes entangled in a conspiracy that stretches far beyond his mission. What begins as a chase for survival transforms into a personal journey to uncover the truth and hold the traitors accountable. A seasoned operative whose loyalty, precision, and training make him formidable. His journey is as much psychological as it is physical, marked by betrayal and self-reinvention.
Initially a voice of guidance and reassurance, the handler becomes a symbol of shifting alliances and moral ambiguity. A shadowy organization bent on manipulation, destabilization, and personal gain. They represent systemic corruption and the faceless nature of betrayal. The novel avoids clearcut heroes and villains. Instead, it presents a world where loyalty is transactional, and the right path is buried beneath layers of compromise and survival.
At the core of the novel is the exploration of trust—how it’s built, broken, and weaponized. The protagonist’s journey is defined by the betrayal of those closest to him, challenging his understanding of friendship and allegiance. The narrative repeatedly blurs the lines between what is real and what is orchestrated. Truth is obscured, making both the character and reader question motives and identities.
A high-level conspiracy reveals how power can be used to manipulate global events. The story critiques unchecked authority and the ease with which institutions can be turned against the very ideals they were meant to protect.
The author employs a cinematic and dramatic style, pulling readers into a fast-paced world filled with action, suspense, and emotional intensity. The pacing is generally strong, though there are moments where overly long descriptions and repetitive details slightly slow the narrative. Still, these pauses serve as moments to catch one’s breath before another thrilling twist. The structure mirrors a spy film: an explosive opening, rising tension, unexpected betrayals, and a high-impact finale. The writing is deliberate, filled with foreshadowing, double meanings, and red herrings that keep the reader guessing.
This novel was a gripping read, not only for its high stakes action but also for its emotional depth. The sense of betrayal felt raw and real, and the protagonist’s transformation from dutiful agent to disillusioned hunter was compelling. I appreciated how the book didn’t offer easy answers, instead leaving the reader to sit with uncomfortable truths about loyalty and power. Despite some slow sections, the overall experience was immersive and intense. The final act, with its unexpected reversals and explosive climax, delivered a satisfying payoff. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys spy thrillers with complex characters and intelligent plotting. This book delivers a well-crafted espionage thriller filled with suspense, emotional tension, and thought-provoking themes. It is not just a story of action, but a meditation on truth, betrayal, and the human cost of loyalty. Through masterful writing and layered storytelling, it leaves a lasting impression—and raises the question: in a world built on secrets, can anyone truly be trusted?
Maaaaaannnnnn was that good. I felt like I was in an action movie. But more accurate lol. Every page was loaded and I could not put it down. The chase scenes in the cars were just awesome. My mind pictured every little detail and it was great. I had a feeling about what was going to happen at the end. Somehow I knew they would be gone. And the end end, yeah, we need another couple of books lol. It's going to be more action packed if Ethan gets his way. And I'm sure he will. I truly hope there is more coming soon. This was great!
Double Blind: A Ghost Operative Thriller isn’t the type of book I usually pick up, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The story moves at a fast pace, pulling you into the action quickly and keeping the tension high throughout. Foster does a fantastic job of painting vivid scenes—you can almost see and hear everything as if you’re right there with the characters.
That said, there were times when the descriptions felt a little too detailed, slowing down the momentum just a bit. Still, the strong writing, intense storyline, and sharp pacing made this a compelling read overall. If you like thrillers packed with action and atmosphere, this one is worth checking out.
I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I had this book for some time before I read it, but when I started it, it gripped me from page one. How would a person react if he discovered that his whole life for the past 25 years had been a lie? That's exactly what happens to Ethan Keller, the hero of this book. The author manages to make the reader to feel the complete devastation the hero feels, and what follows is action, adventure, car chases and more. I have to say that for my taste, the car chases through Brussels and fight scenes went on for longer than I would like - they would probably translate well to the screen. But overall this is a thriller with some deep and life changing experiences for the hero and thought provoking possibilities about just how safe our real world is.
I had the opportunity to receive an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Double Blind by J.A. Foster. Very much enjoyed this thriller! A solid plot with interesting twists, betrayals… and plenty of action. A few of the scenes could have been shorter and some of the detail was a bit more than necessary. But that’s a minor issue. Very readable, fascinating protagonists and antagonists. I’m sure there will be more adventures featuring Ethan Keller.
I received an ARC through "Book sirens" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with Ethan delivering a package for Division 8 when he is met with resistance. He attempts to leave, but wounds up being shot in the hip. He manages to escape and makes his way to the American embassy in Brussels where he identifies himself to security and makes it inside. He wakes up inside the embassy and is cuffed to a bed after having his wound taken care. He is then questioned and through this Ethan discovers that he has not been working for the CIA or any other American agency, but instead has been working for a group that sold to the highest bidder. After talking and learning that there is information that the President of Moldavia is to be assassinated by a sniper in Division 8. Ethan manages to get away from the embassy and plans to put a stop to the plan. He plans to prevent the last pickup of equipment in hopes of stopping the attempt.
Ethan has been allowed to escape, but someone was on his trail keeping an eye for him. Ethan was late arriving to where the location for the equipment drop, but had to face off against someone from Division 8 who was there to stop him. Because of his failure, he contacted the only person he had trust in, Lighthouse, and asked for assistance. He received word that someone was willing to provide information regarding the sniper and was provided with a location for the meet. After arriving, he discovered that someone was there to kill him, but Merritt, the one following him, managed to kill the assailant. Ethan then realized that Lighthouse set him up. Joining with Merritt they went to a safe house where they wound up being attacked. Since they were attacked, they determined that there was a mole in the embassy CIA. They managed to escape and then laid a plan to locate the sniper and prevent the assassination.
Read along and discover what Ethan and Merritt had to do to locate and attempt to prevent the assassination. Learn about what information eventually was learned about Division 8 and how everything worked out in the end.
This is definitely a book that you won't want to put down. This is a definite read, don't miss out!
‘The descriptions of the clothing and weapons is outstanding. The action is hectic – even when Ethan is handcuffed to a table and has an iv in his arm. It is more Rambo than Rambo himself. As time progresses, the plot tension increases and the book is harder to put down. . I like that Division 8 is not CIA but a for profit “business”. That is ideal fuel to Ethan's feeling of betrayal. I enjoyed and recommend this book.
Trust Broken! Ethan, Ethan, Ethan…. Betrayed by your own people… Conspiracy… High-Stakes race against time… Unlikely ally helping to navigate the blurred lines between good and evil in the world of covert operations. The attention to detail was excellent, action and intensity were heart-racing, and the imagery and clever writing brought it all together for me. It read like a movie—and should be made into one!