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Kirk McGarvey #20
End Game
Retired CIA assassin Kirk McGarvey faces the most formidable adversary of his long and storied career in End Game by David Hagberg.Langley is experiencing a series of gruesome murders. The CIA’s own headquarters should be the safest spot on the planet, but a highly professional, violently psychopathic assassin, who hideously disfigures his victims, strikes without mercy.
The murders spread from Langley to a prison outside of Athens, where the first clue to what will become the End Game surfaces. A code carved into four copper panels of the legendary statue in a courtyard at CIA headquarters, known as Kryptos, predicts the means and the terrible necessity for the serial killings.
Before the first Iraq war, something horrifying was buried in the foothills above the oil city of Kirkuk. It will not remain buried forever.
Only Kirk McGarvey, Pete Boylan, and the CIA’s odd-duck genius, Otto Rencke, can find the truth still buried in Iraq. A truth so devastating it could well ignite the entire Middle East into an unstoppable, apocalyptic war.
318 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
65 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
David Hagberg
80 books137 followersaka David Bannerman, Sean Flannery, David James, Robert Pell, Eric Ramsey
David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...
David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 16, 2018
A team of covert US operators (Alpha Seven) is sent to Iraq to uncover WMDs as justification for a planned invasion. The group leaves something buried in Kirkuk, as well as some horrendously disfigured corpses there. Years later, team members are being murdered one-by-one, including a few on the CIA campus in Langley, with their faces savagely disfigured. Kirk McGarvey, Pete Boylan, and Otto Rencke are asked to help the remaining pair stop the killer and find out what was left there. A good thriller, but the book is not without its faults: how, for example, the CIA campus can be so easily penetrated by this killer, and how a mole can access eyes-only information there.
May 27, 2019
In my opinion, End Game is David Hagberg's weakest Kirk McGarvey novel. It is almost beyond belief, and is a somewhat confusing read. It is not a typical Hagberg story in that End Game makes the CIA look amateurish and bumbling.
Seven members of a secret US force during the Iraqi war are being killed, one at a time by a crazed killer who eats the face and neck of each victim. At least one of this group of 7 is suspected of being the killer and is close to the CIA Director. How this person ever got hired and put into this important position. To me it showed the total ineptness of the CIA big wigs. Later, when this person had become a suspect, more ineptness: "She'd taken the radio and the Glock, but had left her spare underwear and wallet.....But none of them had thought to search the room for her cell phone, universal car key, or the papers she'd used to rent the car at the airport." In another part of the book, this suspect escapes from McGarvey and company. In all his other novels, this just never happened. McGarvey always seemed to be one step ahead of the enemy.
Something relatively confusing is the role of the statue of Kryptos located in a courtyard at CIA headquarters. According to this story, a code had been carved into the 4 copper panels of the statue predicting "the manner of the killings and their terrible necessity". Are you serious?
The real reason for all the killings doesn't come out until the end of this weird novel.
Though End Game has a lot of exciting twists and turns, it is a disappointing read...at least for this Hagberg fan.
Seven members of a secret US force during the Iraqi war are being killed, one at a time by a crazed killer who eats the face and neck of each victim. At least one of this group of 7 is suspected of being the killer and is close to the CIA Director. How this person ever got hired and put into this important position. To me it showed the total ineptness of the CIA big wigs. Later, when this person had become a suspect, more ineptness: "She'd taken the radio and the Glock, but had left her spare underwear and wallet.....But none of them had thought to search the room for her cell phone, universal car key, or the papers she'd used to rent the car at the airport." In another part of the book, this suspect escapes from McGarvey and company. In all his other novels, this just never happened. McGarvey always seemed to be one step ahead of the enemy.
Something relatively confusing is the role of the statue of Kryptos located in a courtyard at CIA headquarters. According to this story, a code had been carved into the 4 copper panels of the statue predicting "the manner of the killings and their terrible necessity". Are you serious?
The real reason for all the killings doesn't come out until the end of this weird novel.
Though End Game has a lot of exciting twists and turns, it is a disappointing read...at least for this Hagberg fan.
November 4, 2016
"End Game" the latest thrilling Kirk McGarvey novel opens with two horrific murders at CIA Headquarters which are linked to a mysterious cache buried in the Iraq foothills above the city of Kirkuk and to the panels of the Kryptos, an encrypted sculpture in Langley's courtyard. As the body count mounts Kirk McGarvey, Pete Boylan and techi-whiz Otto Rencke are called in to not only uncover the identity of the killer, but to unravel a hidden secret that could ignite a cataclysmic war in the Middle East.
Well- structured, exciting and flowing swiftly and smoothly to an explosive ending, the plot twists and turns as tension escalates with every new murder victim at Langley and in Athens as the Alpha Seven team sent to uncover WMD's in Iraq prior to the war are targeted, their faces savagely disfigured. Skilfully David Hagberg builds intensity and suspense as the past encroaches on the present and each new suspect unravels a clue to a mystery that slowly points not only to a deadly secret hidden in the Middle East but a suspicion that the killer lurks within the upper echelon of CIA Headquarters.
Haunted by the death of his wife and daughter Kirk McGarvey the former Director of the CIA, a trained assassin with a moral code is tough, just and dangerous, feared by those he doggedly pursues. Partnered with Pete Boylan, an interrogator with a non-judgemental and understanding manner and the quirky tech-genius Otto Rencke these three complex and unforgettable characters begin to hunt for a vicious, insane killer. Yet it's the terrifying psycho "Cynic" a skilled assassin whose cold, merciless and brutal in his killing that adds a shocking and frightening chill to all the drama as it unfolds.
A high-powered, action-packed plot with colourful, multifaceted characters; these ingredients make " End Game" a novel that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. Loved it and won't hesitate to read other Kirk McGarvey novels.
Well- structured, exciting and flowing swiftly and smoothly to an explosive ending, the plot twists and turns as tension escalates with every new murder victim at Langley and in Athens as the Alpha Seven team sent to uncover WMD's in Iraq prior to the war are targeted, their faces savagely disfigured. Skilfully David Hagberg builds intensity and suspense as the past encroaches on the present and each new suspect unravels a clue to a mystery that slowly points not only to a deadly secret hidden in the Middle East but a suspicion that the killer lurks within the upper echelon of CIA Headquarters.
Haunted by the death of his wife and daughter Kirk McGarvey the former Director of the CIA, a trained assassin with a moral code is tough, just and dangerous, feared by those he doggedly pursues. Partnered with Pete Boylan, an interrogator with a non-judgemental and understanding manner and the quirky tech-genius Otto Rencke these three complex and unforgettable characters begin to hunt for a vicious, insane killer. Yet it's the terrifying psycho "Cynic" a skilled assassin whose cold, merciless and brutal in his killing that adds a shocking and frightening chill to all the drama as it unfolds.
A high-powered, action-packed plot with colourful, multifaceted characters; these ingredients make " End Game" a novel that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. Loved it and won't hesitate to read other Kirk McGarvey novels.
August 29, 2017
David Hagberg has brought the Kirk McGavery series back from the dead. It never physically went away, but it had seemed to hit rock bottom. I was almost to the point of giving up on the series. No small decision since I have read book 1-20 in the series. The turn around started with the last book, "The Fourth Horseman", and the excitement was back in fully effect in this installment. This was a solid four, maybe even a four and a half. McGarvey is called in to help the CIA when a couple former NOC (non official cover) agents are murder by having their face eaten off. The story had good pace, and a number of good twists and turns that keep me guessing. I like the addition of Pete Boylan as his sidekick/want to be lover. She brings a little bit of caring and humanity back to McGavery's character that has been missing since his wife and daughter were killed. The enemy (I won't give away who it is) was brilliant, and the book ended with a huge bang. I'm actually really looking forward to the next book, "Tower Down".
September 30, 2022
D0 you like good undercover type books? do you want a lot of action? you gotta read David Hagberg!! Especially the Kirk McGarvey Series!!
Langley is experiencing a series of several murders. The CIA’s own headquarters should be the safest spot on the planet, but a highly professional, violently psychopathic assassin, who hideously disfigures his victims, strikes without mercy.
The murders spread from Langley to a prison outside of Athens, where the first clue to what will become the End Game surfaces. A code carved into four copper panels of the legendary statue in a courtyard at CIA headquarters, known as Kryptos, predicts the means and the terrible necessity for the serial killings.
Before the first Iraq war, something horrifying was buried in the foothills above the oil city of Kirkuk. It will not remain buried forever.
Langley is experiencing a series of several murders. The CIA’s own headquarters should be the safest spot on the planet, but a highly professional, violently psychopathic assassin, who hideously disfigures his victims, strikes without mercy.
The murders spread from Langley to a prison outside of Athens, where the first clue to what will become the End Game surfaces. A code carved into four copper panels of the legendary statue in a courtyard at CIA headquarters, known as Kryptos, predicts the means and the terrible necessity for the serial killings.
Before the first Iraq war, something horrifying was buried in the foothills above the oil city of Kirkuk. It will not remain buried forever.
May 5, 2022
While it's a fast paced and easy to read story it was also irritating.
For example, this story elevates the role and person of Non-official cover (NOC) to near mythical/legendary status. Real-world NOCs are normal people. There is no common skill set among NOCs. They may have some training for their role as NOCs but training does not mean they would be adept or skilled at those roles.
For example, this story elevates the role and person of Non-official cover (NOC) to near mythical/legendary status. Real-world NOCs are normal people. There is no common skill set among NOCs. They may have some training for their role as NOCs but training does not mean they would be adept or skilled at those roles.
November 11, 2017
As far as fast-paced military and spy thrillers go, this one has an excellent plot. The writing and character development can't keep up with those of other authors I've read, but I'd rate them adequate. Serves the purpose, which is to get lost in someone else's world and learn a little about the military mind in the process. This is the first I've read by this former U.S. Air Force cryptographer. It's the 20th in a series, but it works fine as a stand-alone, in my opinion.
July 21, 2019
I picked this up at a library sale. It's a good mystery, spy thriller. The plot twists and turns and is not always on the believable side of how things evolve. The plot keeps you engaged and I found myself staying up nights to read 'just one more chapter.'
Overall, I'll be looking for more of Kirk McGarvey's adventures and finding out more about the history of this character.
Overall, I'll be looking for more of Kirk McGarvey's adventures and finding out more about the history of this character.
October 30, 2017
I like David Hagberg. I love Kirk McGarvey. Unlike Dirk Pitt or Jack Ryan Sr. Kirk just keeps getting better and better. I'm pretty sure he's going to change his alcoholic libation to Geritol but he's still kicking ass!
May 22, 2018
Fast passed and keeps you trying to figure out the players. Gruesome method of eliminating those who know the mastermind plotting to cover their lies. Gives new meaning to "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil".
September 23, 2023
Though there were some thriller aspects, this was more of a mystery/who-done-it type story.
Much more far-fetched than usual.
I'm still a little lost, though the possibility of a continuation seems likely.
Despite all that, a real page-turner.
Much more far-fetched than usual.
I'm still a little lost, though the possibility of a continuation seems likely.
Despite all that, a real page-turner.
September 28, 2017
Another interesting twist of the McGarvey series. Not the the type I would have ever been expected to see McGarvey involved in
November 2, 2017
Ending not so good
March 22, 2021
It's a quick, entertaining read. Great fluff, beach read.
November 6, 2024
Good read.Globe trotting action.
August 10, 2025
Is the CIA really like they’re portrayed in this work? If they are, it’s very scary.
October 11, 2025
This was a very convoluted plot - so much so that I'm not sure I understood it. It was very well written. I normally really like Hagberg's work but I'm not sure about this one. Two and a half stars.
May 27, 2019
The ending was so stupid that it made me realize how silly the story actually was. Had to fight with myself not to give it 2*'s
March 6, 2017
one of those books where the bad guy knows everything and the good guys think they know things but they are wrong and then they finally figure it out at the end, except this one has an ending that really doesn't make any sense - but it does open a door for 12 more books with these characters
February 7, 2017
Two in a row! I can't believe my luck! Another can't put it down thriller. It has been a while since I read a Kirk McGarvey novel, but this was so good I want to go back and make sure I have read the others! Great writing style, a combination of a spy/serial killer/mysterious cipher and set in various cities around the world, and a bit of a love interest to boot! I highly recommend this if you are into the thriller genre. It moves along very quickly and the plot is intricately developed, along with the varied characters. I loved it!
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October 5, 2016TOTAL GARBAGE!!!!! AN ABSOLUTE WASTE OF TIME!!!!! TOTALLY CONTRIVED!!!!!
Unfortunately Mr. Hagberg is much more about quantity than quality.
A miserable contrivance which should never have been published.
Unfortunately Mr. Hagberg is much more about quantity than quality.
A miserable contrivance which should never have been published.
February 8, 2017
I thought the book was well written in that it kept moving forward at a good pace and kept you engaged in the story line. Personally, I like something cleaner - less language and graphic scenes. If it weren't for those aspects, I would read more of David Hagberg's books.
October 17, 2016
I may be getting burnt out on Kirk McGarvey because I really plodded thru this one. However, the shocking ending is worth plowing through the rest of the book.
June 2, 2017
Very good book except the last page
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews