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John Wells #2
The Ghost Agent
John Wells returns in the second explosive thriller from the author of the award-winning The Faithful Spy.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2008
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November 20, 2010
The Ghost War - here's the review: BUY THIS BOOK!
In fact - read all 3 of Alex's books, and get behind me in line for his latest: The Midnight House (in hardcover NOW!)
Alex Berenson's John Wells is a unique guy. Action heroes are a dime a dozen in the fiction world as we all know, however, there comes along - not often enough - a guy like John Wells. You'll never figure him out, not completely, maybe not even close, but his core values teach you to trust him. He can move through the night like a silent mist or a full charge freight train and the bad guys would rather hang it up than know Wells has set his sights on them, and, set them in his sights. WE know the world needs guys like him, and HE also knows the world needs guys like him.
Somewhere in the tortured soul of John Wells is a heart of gold, a heart he has chosen to give to one woman. I'm following Alex Berenson's books both as a fan and a fellow writer and I cannot wait to get my hands on The Midnight House. I'm sure it will be an e-ticket ride. My only complaint is that the books end to soon. HAH!
In fact - read all 3 of Alex's books, and get behind me in line for his latest: The Midnight House (in hardcover NOW!)
Alex Berenson's John Wells is a unique guy. Action heroes are a dime a dozen in the fiction world as we all know, however, there comes along - not often enough - a guy like John Wells. You'll never figure him out, not completely, maybe not even close, but his core values teach you to trust him. He can move through the night like a silent mist or a full charge freight train and the bad guys would rather hang it up than know Wells has set his sights on them, and, set them in his sights. WE know the world needs guys like him, and HE also knows the world needs guys like him.
Somewhere in the tortured soul of John Wells is a heart of gold, a heart he has chosen to give to one woman. I'm following Alex Berenson's books both as a fan and a fellow writer and I cannot wait to get my hands on The Midnight House. I'm sure it will be an e-ticket ride. My only complaint is that the books end to soon. HAH!
October 14, 2021
John Wells was truly addicted to war and war related activities. He helped save the U.S. and thousands of lives with a dynamic takedown in NYC in the precursor to this novel. It is ironic that China flexing its muscles with an eye on Taiwan isone of the topics in this novel. They say art imitates life in many situations. Wells enters Afghanistan on a mission to find some Taliban plotters. We just left Afghanistan on a hasty pullout. The one unbelievable sequence was Wells entering China with no mission planning to meet a spy. How he survived a struggle session with brass knuckles is beyond belief. The rescue was a little far fetched also. Excellent writer though.
February 16, 2014
This was a real barn burner. I could hardly put it down. The plot is so real. Berenson has taken real events and woven them in to a spectacular read. A Mole in the CIA, has taken down our limited human intelligence capability in China. A power struggle in the Politburo is taking China to the brink of war with the US. A deeply hidden mole in the Chinese army, who had dropped off the grid, is our only hope. John Wells the super secret agent, going in where no one in their right mind would go facing every risk and danger committed to success. I am looking forward to the next one.
May 13, 2020
I couldn't finish this. Too macho & too much. Just jumped the shark for me, although I liked the first one in this series. Well narrated, so I kept trying it. Nope.
November 16, 2010
I finally admitted defeat with this book on chapter 4. I just couldn't get into the writing style at all.
I felt I had no connection with the characters, and description/flashbacks kept getting in the way of the narrative, so I never felt settled into the storyline.
The final straw was when the female character entered an office where she had been before and had a coffee while speaking to a colleague. We had a paragraph of dry description without her interacting with any of the surroundings, then they each get to say one line before a big long explanation of what the minor character looks like and what accent he normally has. By the time we got into a detailed description of the coffee mug that was being used, including a flash back to how the coffee mug was purchased, I decided that I no longer cared about the point even if we ever got to it.
I'm sure there's a great story in there somewhere. I just didn't have the patience to find it.
I felt I had no connection with the characters, and description/flashbacks kept getting in the way of the narrative, so I never felt settled into the storyline.
The final straw was when the female character entered an office where she had been before and had a coffee while speaking to a colleague. We had a paragraph of dry description without her interacting with any of the surroundings, then they each get to say one line before a big long explanation of what the minor character looks like and what accent he normally has. By the time we got into a detailed description of the coffee mug that was being used, including a flash back to how the coffee mug was purchased, I decided that I no longer cared about the point even if we ever got to it.
I'm sure there's a great story in there somewhere. I just didn't have the patience to find it.
May 31, 2020
The Ghost War (Ghost agent in the more civilised parts of the world) is one of those rare thrillers where Chinese characters act in a way that makes sense. Typically in the genre you'd expect cardboard cut out antagonists bent on world domination and with a sideline in executing their own minions. The only thing Chinese about them would be the ocassional quote from the only Chinese book thriller authors ever heard of, The Art of War. Maybe if the author is feeling brave, they'd even throw in some common phrases, nihao, xiexie, tongzhi. For motivation there might be a wikipedia article detailing Japanese war crimes squeezed into the novel.
From the beginning of the novel you might be forgiven for thinking the Berenson wasn't capable of nuance. Within 50 pages, we're introduced to a North Korean defector who has recently had his dick chopped off. Nice. However, once Li, Cao and even Jordan are introduced, any doubts should gradually dissipate. Li and Cao are influenced by events in Chinese history that have personally affected them and their career trajectories. They have their own personality quirks and takes on these events which motivate their actions. Jordan illustrates the darker side of China's progress and his arc really allows the reader to see the logic behind Li's actions. Li's motivations are arguably more just than those of the heroes. Berenson's explanations of how Hu Jintao era China works is still relevant today and one of the most succinct and convincing (if a little cynical) explanations I've come across, Political Science text books included.
And I shouldn't knock the beginning of the novel too much. It opens with a daring extraction operation. Berenson gives the details in a way that indicates he's clearly enjoyed thinking up the plan and the hi jinks that follow. One of the most interesting aspects of thrillers (especially the ones that strive for realism) is seeing how the good guys (and even the bad) solve the problems that get thrown at them while working within real world constraints. The imaginative solutions Berenson comes up with are one of the strengths of this novel but also it's greatest weakness. Most of the time he pulls it off, even when involving naval and aerial actions. However, a special forces raid mid way through the story is one glaring exception. According to Berenson, all American special forces soldiers carry CS gas. The hero of the story, Jack Wells, even uses it while hunting some bad guys in a tunnel network. Maybe the author was thinking of Vietnam? Maybe he's trying to draw our attention to a war crime, considering the US government ratified a treaty outlawing the use of CS gas for warfare in 1993. Another issue is with Berenson's understanding of how special forces operate. Our plucky heroes launch an attack on an entrenched enemy unit more than twice their size and without any kind of indirect fires. Somehow a company fits in a Black Hawk. I'm not one to nitpick and I'm certainly too lazy to use Wikipedia to fact check details but mistakes like these stick out a little too much and damage the suspension of disbelief required to really buy into the stakes of the novel.
Wells, the protagonist, is the least interesting character in novel. Mitch Rapp but angsty isn't a great gimmick considering Rapp in his later appearances was capable of a bunch of different emotions anyway. He's also a superstar and the CIA tasks a helicopter to follow him around and watch over him 24/7. Even weirder, he has some sort of special security clearance for some reason which means he can have access to every CIA secret ever. Hopefully they don't send this guy into the field because it might be the end of CIA if he ever gets nabbed. Oh, wait...
Besides the Chinese characters mentioned above, there are other compelling characters who make up for how uninteresting Wells is. My favorite would be the mole. His motivations made sense and I found myself wanting to know if he'd weasel his way to safety. Why is it in so many thrillers that only the bad guys are allowed the kind of character flaws that make them interesting?
Because of some of the weird stuff mentioned above, I can't really say Ghost War is an essential read. However, if you're interested in Chinese politics then it comes recommended.
From the beginning of the novel you might be forgiven for thinking the Berenson wasn't capable of nuance. Within 50 pages, we're introduced to a North Korean defector who has recently had his dick chopped off. Nice. However, once Li, Cao and even Jordan are introduced, any doubts should gradually dissipate. Li and Cao are influenced by events in Chinese history that have personally affected them and their career trajectories. They have their own personality quirks and takes on these events which motivate their actions. Jordan illustrates the darker side of China's progress and his arc really allows the reader to see the logic behind Li's actions. Li's motivations are arguably more just than those of the heroes. Berenson's explanations of how Hu Jintao era China works is still relevant today and one of the most succinct and convincing (if a little cynical) explanations I've come across, Political Science text books included.
And I shouldn't knock the beginning of the novel too much. It opens with a daring extraction operation. Berenson gives the details in a way that indicates he's clearly enjoyed thinking up the plan and the hi jinks that follow. One of the most interesting aspects of thrillers (especially the ones that strive for realism) is seeing how the good guys (and even the bad) solve the problems that get thrown at them while working within real world constraints. The imaginative solutions Berenson comes up with are one of the strengths of this novel but also it's greatest weakness. Most of the time he pulls it off, even when involving naval and aerial actions. However, a special forces raid mid way through the story is one glaring exception. According to Berenson, all American special forces soldiers carry CS gas. The hero of the story, Jack Wells, even uses it while hunting some bad guys in a tunnel network. Maybe the author was thinking of Vietnam? Maybe he's trying to draw our attention to a war crime, considering the US government ratified a treaty outlawing the use of CS gas for warfare in 1993. Another issue is with Berenson's understanding of how special forces operate. Our plucky heroes launch an attack on an entrenched enemy unit more than twice their size and without any kind of indirect fires. Somehow a company fits in a Black Hawk. I'm not one to nitpick and I'm certainly too lazy to use Wikipedia to fact check details but mistakes like these stick out a little too much and damage the suspension of disbelief required to really buy into the stakes of the novel.
Wells, the protagonist, is the least interesting character in novel. Mitch Rapp but angsty isn't a great gimmick considering Rapp in his later appearances was capable of a bunch of different emotions anyway. He's also a superstar and the CIA tasks a helicopter to follow him around and watch over him 24/7. Even weirder, he has some sort of special security clearance for some reason which means he can have access to every CIA secret ever. Hopefully they don't send this guy into the field because it might be the end of CIA if he ever gets nabbed. Oh, wait...
Besides the Chinese characters mentioned above, there are other compelling characters who make up for how uninteresting Wells is. My favorite would be the mole. His motivations made sense and I found myself wanting to know if he'd weasel his way to safety. Why is it in so many thrillers that only the bad guys are allowed the kind of character flaws that make them interesting?
Because of some of the weird stuff mentioned above, I can't really say Ghost War is an essential read. However, if you're interested in Chinese politics then it comes recommended.
August 9, 2016
Alex Berenson. His work is basically about merging the journalistic style of Forsyth with a version of Mitch Rapp who has a tendency to angst more about his job. Most of the stuff he does focuses on the geopolitics of the Middle East and the war on terror. But in his second book, he took a detour, being one of the first spy thrillers to seriously focus on the growing power of the People's Republic Of China. What resulted was a well researched story about a subject matter which has become a lot more relevant, eliminating many of the misconceptions and stereotypes about the PRC while doing so.
The story revolves around a plan hatched by China's Minister of defense. Unlike your run of the mill Chinese military man, he's actually a pretty decent guy. Unlike his colleagues, he's noticed that the economic boom isn't going to last and wants to spread the wealth around to China's underclass before they suffer in the inevitable crash. This means a coup. To do this, he engages in some morally ambiguous methods up to trying to instigate a war between China and the United States, utilizing the PLA Second Directorate, China's military intelligence service which he controls. He comes into conflict with CIA NOC officer John Wells, the main protagonist who uncovers part of his scheme in of all places, Afghanistan.
The plot is solid but only really gets fun in the last quarter of the book. The climax has Wells and a Agency asset sailing for the lives across the sea of Japan, trying to cover as much distance as possible before the PLA Navy gets a lock on their position. From Washington to Beijing and a quick trip to the mountains of Afghanistan and an airfield outside Tehran, it condenses quite a bit of globe-trotting fun into a efficient package.
In terms of themes, this book is one of the best spy thrillers which focuses on China despite events making it a little less relevant. That economic boom they have experienced, for better or worse, has made the People's Republic a better place than it was during the insanity of the Mao era. Unfortunately, said boom has created two problems. A corrupt political class which squanders the opportunity they have and a growing underclass of people who have missed out on the economic benefits. The book also focuses on China's military and intelligence community. Gone are the days of being a hammer. With more resources to play with, the PLA is attempting to update itself for the big leagues, while the Second Directorate and the Ministry of State Security are dangerously savvy at their job.
As for characters. There were only two standouts. General Li, the defense minister of the People's Republic. He's my favorite villain in spy fiction, subverting all the "yellow peril tropes". He's not corrupt, not a raving anti-westerner and actually gives a toss about the well-being of the general Chinese public. His parts of the book were the most compelling and I wouldn't have minded if he had won. His problem however is that he has a latent desire for power. This skewers his perspective and leads to his pretty tragic downfall when he overreaches himself.
Next is the CIA asset who becomes the main plot point of the book. A conflicted, and sympathetic man, he's forced to take down his one true friend and benefactor to save the balance of power and the world from a costly war. And he's a surprisingly badass character who doesn't need the main protagonist to do the heavy lifting, case in point is what he does with a
suppressed .22LR handgun
Overall, The Ghost War is an excellent spy/geopolitical thriller. It focuses on a subject which has only gotten more important over time and has a rare, sympathetic antagonist which only comes once in a while. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in thrillers involving Asia but is tired of the usual, stale conventions which populate those books.
The story revolves around a plan hatched by China's Minister of defense. Unlike your run of the mill Chinese military man, he's actually a pretty decent guy. Unlike his colleagues, he's noticed that the economic boom isn't going to last and wants to spread the wealth around to China's underclass before they suffer in the inevitable crash. This means a coup. To do this, he engages in some morally ambiguous methods up to trying to instigate a war between China and the United States, utilizing the PLA Second Directorate, China's military intelligence service which he controls. He comes into conflict with CIA NOC officer John Wells, the main protagonist who uncovers part of his scheme in of all places, Afghanistan.
The plot is solid but only really gets fun in the last quarter of the book. The climax has Wells and a Agency asset sailing for the lives across the sea of Japan, trying to cover as much distance as possible before the PLA Navy gets a lock on their position. From Washington to Beijing and a quick trip to the mountains of Afghanistan and an airfield outside Tehran, it condenses quite a bit of globe-trotting fun into a efficient package.
In terms of themes, this book is one of the best spy thrillers which focuses on China despite events making it a little less relevant. That economic boom they have experienced, for better or worse, has made the People's Republic a better place than it was during the insanity of the Mao era. Unfortunately, said boom has created two problems. A corrupt political class which squanders the opportunity they have and a growing underclass of people who have missed out on the economic benefits. The book also focuses on China's military and intelligence community. Gone are the days of being a hammer. With more resources to play with, the PLA is attempting to update itself for the big leagues, while the Second Directorate and the Ministry of State Security are dangerously savvy at their job.
As for characters. There were only two standouts. General Li, the defense minister of the People's Republic. He's my favorite villain in spy fiction, subverting all the "yellow peril tropes". He's not corrupt, not a raving anti-westerner and actually gives a toss about the well-being of the general Chinese public. His parts of the book were the most compelling and I wouldn't have minded if he had won. His problem however is that he has a latent desire for power. This skewers his perspective and leads to his pretty tragic downfall when he overreaches himself.
Next is the CIA asset who becomes the main plot point of the book. A conflicted, and sympathetic man, he's forced to take down his one true friend and benefactor to save the balance of power and the world from a costly war. And he's a surprisingly badass character who doesn't need the main protagonist to do the heavy lifting, case in point is what he does with a
suppressed .22LR handgun
Overall, The Ghost War is an excellent spy/geopolitical thriller. It focuses on a subject which has only gotten more important over time and has a rare, sympathetic antagonist which only comes once in a while. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in thrillers involving Asia but is tired of the usual, stale conventions which populate those books.
September 29, 2022
3.5 stars
September 5, 2017
This is my last book of the Summer of 2017. My third Alex Berenson book this summer was just ok. John Wells is a different kind of spy, and more patriotic than Jason Bourne. I could have rounded up to four stars, but in my mind that would mean the book is probably worth reading again. There were some pretty weak chapters that I skimmed, hate to say, or my brook just shut off. And then it got personal with our hero, the deeply-undercover John Wells, bringing America back from the brink of war against the Chinese. I really enjoyed those survive-or-else chapters even though I thought this book was less than great overall. But I will read on in this series.
June 25, 2008
This book is a geo-political adventure thriller novel with the basic required contents; (1) tough guy, (2) attractive woman, (3) danger and violence, (4) threat of more danger and violence, and (5) international intrigue tuned into current events. Also, any of the characters in the book may be wiped out at any moment, except for that tough guy and his attractive woman. The plot is based upon the premise that the People's Republic of China wants respect for its military power that is commensurate with its rising economic power. The plot involves China and the USA playing brinksmanship with the threat of war. I don't think I'm giving too much away to say that war is avoided in the end. I found it interesting to note that near the end one of China's leaders says war with America isn't needed because China will obviously prevail in the end without war. The writing is a direct (not subtle or nuanced) telling of the story which makes it an easy read.
I got this book by accident. I put a hold on the audio version of it from the library thinking I was getting the book Ghost Wars, which is a non-fiction book. The audio book The Ghost War was available several months later, and when I pick it up I was a bit puzzled over why I had requested it. With the passing of time I had forgotten what book I had intended to get. So I listened to it thinking I'd eventually remember the reason for getting it. Now that I am finished with the book I've figured out that it was a mistake. Oh well, my bookshelf needs some variety.
I got this book by accident. I put a hold on the audio version of it from the library thinking I was getting the book Ghost Wars, which is a non-fiction book. The audio book The Ghost War was available several months later, and when I pick it up I was a bit puzzled over why I had requested it. With the passing of time I had forgotten what book I had intended to get. So I listened to it thinking I'd eventually remember the reason for getting it. Now that I am finished with the book I've figured out that it was a mistake. Oh well, my bookshelf needs some variety.
February 10, 2016
I loved it. I am so happy to have discovered this series. John Wells reminds me of John Raines in the Barry Eisler series except Wells is not an assassin, well not in the true sense anyway. John Wells is a strong character who is self contained and has serious problems with authority but not enough to totally burn his bridges. He is sent on a secret mission with no backup after much discussion by his girlfriend, Jennifer, and his bosses at the CIA. It is decided that it is worth it but when he sends a message to Jennifer that he needs help, she arranges with the CIA to send in a plane. It is an exciting story and one that every reader of espionage stories will love. Think of Flynn, Clancy, Griffin and their characters. John Wells is as good as these. Can't wait to get on with Book 3 and then catch up to the latest Book 10.
October 26, 2018
This was a good story which seemed to touch on reality...always survivors seem to doubt their worth for going through some devastating times and the people who did heroic gestures are always so humble in their acceptance of what they've done. They become-self destructive. How many of our soldiers coming back from war feel that they should have been the ones killed instead of their friends. Well, I digress, it is just something that this story has left me with. It may affect you differently, it is not even the main theme of the story, but the one that resonated with me.
April 1, 2014
This is the second book for Alex. I found it written very well and held my attention the entire book. As with other spy/murder/military mysteries, for me, that is, there is more of a description of things like bombs, helicopters,planes, etc than I need. Although the description of the Blackhawk held my interest more so than the the others.It was to the point and I could almost invision myself riding along with John Wells.Looking forward to reading the next book in his series, The Silent Man.
May 30, 2015
Very good second installment of the John Wells series by Berenson. The finale was a bit anti- climactic but still very engrossing and fast paced. This is definitely a series I can follow and enjoy. Looking forward to book #3.
January 21, 2021
Predictable sequal to #1 , I won't be reading #3. Berenson is a better investigative reporter than a writer of fiction.
January 30, 2018
This book was a gift from a friend, as she knows I like spy books and movies. Unfortunately I have not read book one, however this gives a brief description of what has happened to John Wells in book one, so the reader is not totally lost.
John is sent back to Afghanistan, and the writer gives a great description of being in air with the Black Hawks and how great our military is. There is a lot of double dealing, who is supplying the insurgents with monies, white troops and training? John and his SF and Black Hawk crews go on a very dangerous mission, lives are lost. The U.S. Navy comes under fire. What games are China playing, are they pushing for a war? Why? On returning to the USA they discover there are moles in the CIA, lives have been lost due to this traitor, and more lives of Americans will be lost daily. Though, unable to speak the language John is sent into China under cover, this is the flaw in the book, no one is sent with him who speaks the language, why do they not send in an Agent who can speak the language, however, then we would not have John in a difficult situation.
Fast forward, John does get back to the USA, the mole has gone, but they have moles in their embassies too, is anyone looking for them? The book is written with an ending, however, you know if you are lucky, you will be able to read a continuation. Good story, good book. I enjoyed it.
John is sent back to Afghanistan, and the writer gives a great description of being in air with the Black Hawks and how great our military is. There is a lot of double dealing, who is supplying the insurgents with monies, white troops and training? John and his SF and Black Hawk crews go on a very dangerous mission, lives are lost. The U.S. Navy comes under fire. What games are China playing, are they pushing for a war? Why? On returning to the USA they discover there are moles in the CIA, lives have been lost due to this traitor, and more lives of Americans will be lost daily. Though, unable to speak the language John is sent into China under cover, this is the flaw in the book, no one is sent with him who speaks the language, why do they not send in an Agent who can speak the language, however, then we would not have John in a difficult situation.
Fast forward, John does get back to the USA, the mole has gone, but they have moles in their embassies too, is anyone looking for them? The book is written with an ending, however, you know if you are lucky, you will be able to read a continuation. Good story, good book. I enjoyed it.
July 15, 2020
Another GREAT novel of John Wells adventures.
Best line: "His naval experience was limited to the occasional bath with Exley"
Best line: "His naval experience was limited to the occasional bath with Exley"
March 11, 2015
Alex Berenson’s sequel to THE FAITHFUL SPY continues to develop the character of John Wells, the CIA operative who penetrated al-Qaeda where he remained for almost ten years. During that time he rejected western religion and converted to Islam. In THE GHOST WAR we find Wells in a much different situation that does not quite measure up to his character development in the previous novel. The story begins at a rotting pier in Inchon, South Korea, an industrial port fifty miles west of Seoul. Ted Beck, another CIA operative is scanning the horizon looking for a “cigarette boat” called the Phantom that is to be used to extract Dr. Sung Kwan, a North Korean scientist essential to their nuclear program who had been flipped by the CIA. The rescue attempt does not go smoothly and the CIA counter intelligence group is brought in to investigate as the narrative unfolds.
The story line has a number of threads that are drawn together in an interesting web of intelligence that needs thorough development. To Berenson’s credit he pulls it off flawlessly. The reader is presented with the improved offensive capacity of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Further, a CIA mole in the office of counter-intelligence dealing with East Asia is ever present. Former Russian Spetsnaz (Special Forces) are discovered after Wells is brought into the story. A Chinese general on the Politburo’s Standing Committee develops a scenario involving confrontation with the United States to seize power. China and Iran enter into an alliance as part of the plot, and the United States and China are brought to the brink of war. All of these threads fit nicely as the plot evolves and Wells is inserted at strategic points to solve a number of problems.
Members of THE FAITHFUL SPY cast of characters reappear. Wells’ girlfriend and handler, Jennifer Exley plays a prominent role as does Ellis Shafer, Exley’s CIA boss, plus Vinny Duto, now Director of the CIA, who despite Wells’ success in stopping a major terrorist attack at Times Square still has little respect for his talents. New characters are added including George Tyson, a rather large and brusque Deputy Director of Counter Intelligence, Henry Williams, the Commander of the USS Decateur, General Li Ping, and Chief of the People’s Liberation Army and a host of spies and other types, including former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Within the many story lines there are a number of secondary situations that emerge that are interesting. In tracking the enhanced training of the Taliban and their new inventory of weapons, a Russian prisoner taken in a cave in Afghanistan is linked to a rich arms dealer who among his many residences are one in East Hampton, Long Island where Wells recruits the Chief of Police to assist him in breaking into the arms dealer’s compound. The Chinese-Iranian rapprochement is also interesting and the analysis that Berenson presents as to why it was beneficial to both sides is very worrisome when thinking about the current nuclear negotiations with Iran and the slowing of Chinese economic growth. Berenson also offers accurate insights into Chinese politics, as well as the plight of the poor and the overall internal domestic situation in China. As he did in his previous novel, Berenson is not shy about sharing his opinion of American foreign policy under the Bush administration as he weaves historical issues that we confront today back to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Overall, THE GHOST WAR is a very entertaining novel, but I expected more of the John Wells character. Perhaps building upon his conversion to Islam which he now appears to have moved away from, and more of the internal division that exists in the US foreign policy and intelligence community might improve the narrative. Despite this disappointment I look forward to reading the third installment of the John Wells series, THE SILENT MAN and I do recommend THE GHOST WAR to those who enjoy this genre.
The story line has a number of threads that are drawn together in an interesting web of intelligence that needs thorough development. To Berenson’s credit he pulls it off flawlessly. The reader is presented with the improved offensive capacity of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Further, a CIA mole in the office of counter-intelligence dealing with East Asia is ever present. Former Russian Spetsnaz (Special Forces) are discovered after Wells is brought into the story. A Chinese general on the Politburo’s Standing Committee develops a scenario involving confrontation with the United States to seize power. China and Iran enter into an alliance as part of the plot, and the United States and China are brought to the brink of war. All of these threads fit nicely as the plot evolves and Wells is inserted at strategic points to solve a number of problems.
Members of THE FAITHFUL SPY cast of characters reappear. Wells’ girlfriend and handler, Jennifer Exley plays a prominent role as does Ellis Shafer, Exley’s CIA boss, plus Vinny Duto, now Director of the CIA, who despite Wells’ success in stopping a major terrorist attack at Times Square still has little respect for his talents. New characters are added including George Tyson, a rather large and brusque Deputy Director of Counter Intelligence, Henry Williams, the Commander of the USS Decateur, General Li Ping, and Chief of the People’s Liberation Army and a host of spies and other types, including former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Within the many story lines there are a number of secondary situations that emerge that are interesting. In tracking the enhanced training of the Taliban and their new inventory of weapons, a Russian prisoner taken in a cave in Afghanistan is linked to a rich arms dealer who among his many residences are one in East Hampton, Long Island where Wells recruits the Chief of Police to assist him in breaking into the arms dealer’s compound. The Chinese-Iranian rapprochement is also interesting and the analysis that Berenson presents as to why it was beneficial to both sides is very worrisome when thinking about the current nuclear negotiations with Iran and the slowing of Chinese economic growth. Berenson also offers accurate insights into Chinese politics, as well as the plight of the poor and the overall internal domestic situation in China. As he did in his previous novel, Berenson is not shy about sharing his opinion of American foreign policy under the Bush administration as he weaves historical issues that we confront today back to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Overall, THE GHOST WAR is a very entertaining novel, but I expected more of the John Wells character. Perhaps building upon his conversion to Islam which he now appears to have moved away from, and more of the internal division that exists in the US foreign policy and intelligence community might improve the narrative. Despite this disappointment I look forward to reading the third installment of the John Wells series, THE SILENT MAN and I do recommend THE GHOST WAR to those who enjoy this genre.
December 21, 2011
Last year we were treated to Alex Berenson's first book, "The Faithful Spy" that featured John Wells, a CIA operative, who was able to infiltrate and become a trusted member of al-Qaeda.
"The Ghost War" brings John Wells back and this time he is involved in a plot, by an unknown foreign power, to give aid to the Taliban in Afghanistan. John and a team of Rangers are dropped into an enemy camp. After a fierce firefight they are given information that may lead them to those financing the insurgents.
A North Korean scientist, who is an American Agent, thinks he has been discovered and asks to be extricated from North Korea. John is on the team to bring him out, only to find that they have walked into a trap.
The United States is also faced with the fact that someone is assisting Iran into becoming a nuclear power.
All of these factors bring John to China where a struggle for power is quite possibly going to bring on a major war, unless he can find out who is behind all of this and why it is happening.
Although it is not absolutely necessary to read "The Faithful Spy" first, I would recommend that you do, if not to set up the characters, but also there are references made in "The Ghost War" that refer back to "The Faithful Spy".
If you are looking for a good spy novel that is based in the CIA that contains not only a good plot, good characters, and good endings, these books will provide them for you. There is plenty of action and intrigue, with enough suspense to keep you guessing.
"The Ghost War" brings John Wells back and this time he is involved in a plot, by an unknown foreign power, to give aid to the Taliban in Afghanistan. John and a team of Rangers are dropped into an enemy camp. After a fierce firefight they are given information that may lead them to those financing the insurgents.
A North Korean scientist, who is an American Agent, thinks he has been discovered and asks to be extricated from North Korea. John is on the team to bring him out, only to find that they have walked into a trap.
The United States is also faced with the fact that someone is assisting Iran into becoming a nuclear power.
All of these factors bring John to China where a struggle for power is quite possibly going to bring on a major war, unless he can find out who is behind all of this and why it is happening.
Although it is not absolutely necessary to read "The Faithful Spy" first, I would recommend that you do, if not to set up the characters, but also there are references made in "The Ghost War" that refer back to "The Faithful Spy".
If you are looking for a good spy novel that is based in the CIA that contains not only a good plot, good characters, and good endings, these books will provide them for you. There is plenty of action and intrigue, with enough suspense to keep you guessing.
July 29, 2008
Another excellent addition to the John Wells saga.
June 30, 2015
Just another good read in the series. Lots of action and good writing. Every one of these books have been very entertaining thus far.
August 25, 2024
2.5/10
Manages to be worse than the previous one in his series. His saving grace is the detail he goes into when it comes to military operations (group-level and on the individual level) that he must have gotten through one-on-one interviews.
His personal narrative story style and character creation is abysmal since he's just relying on himself and his own prejudices and bias. If you want a neo-con fan fiction written by an obviously liberal Jew that hates southerners and Russians (wow, what are the odds) with sloppy, ham-fisted bodice ripper scenes in it, this is the bargain bin Cussler trash for you.
Seriously. I like Berenson's personal reporting and I figured I would moderately like his fiction writing, but the NYC Jewish liberal chip on his shoulder is so obvious throughout the "John Wells universe." So exhausting having to get past his shtetlbilly grievances from the Pale of Settlement days (every Russian is a knuckle-dragging idiot, barely human except for cowardice) to modern times, where every southerner is a crypto-slavery apologist (and also a troglodyte).
He can't even get his stereotypes right when he has the Tyson character be a Deep South southerner that also prefers bourbon. A man his age from that part of the country would most likely either be a teetotaler or a have preference for brandy/cognac-- bourbon for that man's era would have been a very specifically Kentuckian thing; bourbon only became popular outside of the state much later on.
His black worship is also beyond the pale, literally every high functioning military officer is a black guy that's also a polyglot and a chess aficionado lol really Alex? Come on.
I'm taking a break from the series and reading some good fiction, but these first two books I'm burning, no one else should be subjected to these sloppy stereotypes and neo-con masturbatory fantasies.
Manages to be worse than the previous one in his series. His saving grace is the detail he goes into when it comes to military operations (group-level and on the individual level) that he must have gotten through one-on-one interviews.
His personal narrative story style and character creation is abysmal since he's just relying on himself and his own prejudices and bias. If you want a neo-con fan fiction written by an obviously liberal Jew that hates southerners and Russians (wow, what are the odds) with sloppy, ham-fisted bodice ripper scenes in it, this is the bargain bin Cussler trash for you.
Seriously. I like Berenson's personal reporting and I figured I would moderately like his fiction writing, but the NYC Jewish liberal chip on his shoulder is so obvious throughout the "John Wells universe." So exhausting having to get past his shtetlbilly grievances from the Pale of Settlement days (every Russian is a knuckle-dragging idiot, barely human except for cowardice) to modern times, where every southerner is a crypto-slavery apologist (and also a troglodyte).
He can't even get his stereotypes right when he has the Tyson character be a Deep South southerner that also prefers bourbon. A man his age from that part of the country would most likely either be a teetotaler or a have preference for brandy/cognac-- bourbon for that man's era would have been a very specifically Kentuckian thing; bourbon only became popular outside of the state much later on.
His black worship is also beyond the pale, literally every high functioning military officer is a black guy that's also a polyglot and a chess aficionado lol really Alex? Come on.
I'm taking a break from the series and reading some good fiction, but these first two books I'm burning, no one else should be subjected to these sloppy stereotypes and neo-con masturbatory fantasies.
June 6, 2020
#2 in the John Wells series. This 2008 series entry from author Alex Berenson is an able follow-up to award winning debut The Faithful Spy (2006). Protagonist CIA agent extraordinaire John Wells is in Washington, DC with his lover Jennifer Exley, also a CIA agent. Two disparate events occur and attract their attention. They split their focus between the two. Jennifer searches for the CIA mole who betrayed a scientist in the North Korean nuclear program; while John travels to Afghanistan to find out why the military prowess of the Taliban if improving so radically.
In The Faithful Spy, John Wells became the only American CIA agent ever to penetrate al-Qaeda, but his handlers became distrustful of him, and he of them. He had to stop a devastating terrorist attack nearly alone. Now Wells is back in Washington. HIs wounds have healed, but his mind is far from clear. He is restless, uneasy in his skin, and careless with his safety. When the CIA finds evidence of a surge in Taliban activity, backed by an unknown foreign power, it takes little to convince Wells to return to Afghanistan to investigate.
In The Faithful Spy, John Wells became the only American CIA agent ever to penetrate al-Qaeda, but his handlers became distrustful of him, and he of them. He had to stop a devastating terrorist attack nearly alone. Now Wells is back in Washington. HIs wounds have healed, but his mind is far from clear. He is restless, uneasy in his skin, and careless with his safety. When the CIA finds evidence of a surge in Taliban activity, backed by an unknown foreign power, it takes little to convince Wells to return to Afghanistan to investigate.
September 29, 2019
It's been a while since I read a book with this many pages in one day. This book wouldn't let me go, for longer than it took to make & eat lunch and dinner.
It was a nice book. A combination (for me) of Ludlum & Clancy, my favourite writers. An interesting plot. A thrilling story. A plausible plot, that is incorporating/pointing at recent history.
I just loved it. I'm very happy to have part 3 waiting for me :-)
It was a nice book. A combination (for me) of Ludlum & Clancy, my favourite writers. An interesting plot. A thrilling story. A plausible plot, that is incorporating/pointing at recent history.
I just loved it. I'm very happy to have part 3 waiting for me :-)
August 8, 2018
Great book. Like this author who is new to me.
October 19, 2019
The last third made up for a slow start.
March 29, 2020
A great sequel. I am really enjoying this author and Exley and Wells. Didn't want to stop reading
March 21, 2017
I have to say if you like this kind of thing (and I do) it's a bit more fun than Vince Flynn.
September 18, 2022
This is the second novel in the John Wells series and it is a solid spy adventure. The book begins with a North Korean torpedo destroying an American spy boat. We later find out that there is a mole in the CIA who is providing the Chinese with top secret information. As the CIA attempts to discover the mole , geopolitical tensions rise between the USA and Chinese militaries and the two nations are nearing closer to conflict. While there were some slow parts early on, the intrigue picked up towards a nice crescendo. Enjoyed the book, especially the geopolitical aspects, looking forward to the next one.
April 10, 2013
4½ stars - John Wells is back and it’s the year following the events of The Faithful Spy that found him saving the day in Times Square. His name is now known around the world and he’s a national hero, though his face is still pretty much a mystery; thanks to the CIA’s efforts, only 20 year old photos and a lot of misinformation about him are floating around.
As The Ghost War begins, CIA agents are ambushed while trying to extract an informant in North Korea who’s been compromised, which leads to the discovery that there’s a mole somewhere in the Asia branch of the Agency. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Jennifer Exley, Wells’ girlfriend and former handler, has discovered that the Taliban, who are fighting better, smarter and with more coordination, which translates into a higher U.S. body count, appear to be doing so because they are getting help from white mercenaries. Wells ends up heading of to Afghanistan, while Exley and her and Wells’ boss Ellis Shafer, begin looking into the mole who gave up the informant in North Korea.
This next sentence or two may be as undecipherable as Sanskrit to Berenson’s target/core audience. I read mostly YA and NA contemporary and YA and adult paranormal books and I was a little sick of it and decided I needed a break. Something with intrigue and espionage sounded good and I’d had this book sitting around for a while. Plus, I figured it would take me a while to get through this book. I was right on the first count, totally wrong on the second (it only took me a few days to blow through this one as well as the next book in the series).
As with The Faithful Spy, there’s a lot of action and a few twists, as seemingly unrelated events end up closely linked and we see what’s going on from the POVs of characters on both sides of the conflict. I really enjoyed The Ghost War. Berenson is great at switching between characters, and not just the main characters, but secondary ones as well, while keeping the intensity high. Of course, he’d usually wait until something was going to happen, or had just happened, when he’d flip to another location with another character, which made me want to scream. Then, if it was a new character/location, he’d start building this new part up to the point where you’d almost forgotten how involved you were with what had been happening. If it was a new character, you knew there was a good chance that things were going to end up less than well for him, but Berenson still manages to get you fully involved in this latest, though possibly very brief, storyline (It reminds me of Sam Rockwell’s character in the movie Galaxy Quest, he was an extra who was sure he was going to get killed because no one knew his last name and characters with no last name are the ones who got dead fast; unfortunately, even having a last name in Berenson’s novels is no security, by any stretch of the imagination.).
I don’t know how accurate it is, though I assume a lot of it’s pretty spot on, but I love how technical Berenson is in his descriptions of everything from the workings of the spy business to bomb construction. It really seems like he does an exhaustive, and exhausting, amount of research and, even if everything isn’t 100% accurate, it makes for a really good read. If you’re looking for a good, fast even in spite of the length, espionage thriller, I would definitely recommend The Ghost War. While I think you can read it without having read The Faithful Spy, I’d still suggest reading it first. Not only will it filling in the blanks, it’s a page turner itself.
As The Ghost War begins, CIA agents are ambushed while trying to extract an informant in North Korea who’s been compromised, which leads to the discovery that there’s a mole somewhere in the Asia branch of the Agency. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Jennifer Exley, Wells’ girlfriend and former handler, has discovered that the Taliban, who are fighting better, smarter and with more coordination, which translates into a higher U.S. body count, appear to be doing so because they are getting help from white mercenaries. Wells ends up heading of to Afghanistan, while Exley and her and Wells’ boss Ellis Shafer, begin looking into the mole who gave up the informant in North Korea.
This next sentence or two may be as undecipherable as Sanskrit to Berenson’s target/core audience. I read mostly YA and NA contemporary and YA and adult paranormal books and I was a little sick of it and decided I needed a break. Something with intrigue and espionage sounded good and I’d had this book sitting around for a while. Plus, I figured it would take me a while to get through this book. I was right on the first count, totally wrong on the second (it only took me a few days to blow through this one as well as the next book in the series).
As with The Faithful Spy, there’s a lot of action and a few twists, as seemingly unrelated events end up closely linked and we see what’s going on from the POVs of characters on both sides of the conflict. I really enjoyed The Ghost War. Berenson is great at switching between characters, and not just the main characters, but secondary ones as well, while keeping the intensity high. Of course, he’d usually wait until something was going to happen, or had just happened, when he’d flip to another location with another character, which made me want to scream. Then, if it was a new character/location, he’d start building this new part up to the point where you’d almost forgotten how involved you were with what had been happening. If it was a new character, you knew there was a good chance that things were going to end up less than well for him, but Berenson still manages to get you fully involved in this latest, though possibly very brief, storyline (It reminds me of Sam Rockwell’s character in the movie Galaxy Quest, he was an extra who was sure he was going to get killed because no one knew his last name and characters with no last name are the ones who got dead fast; unfortunately, even having a last name in Berenson’s novels is no security, by any stretch of the imagination.).
I don’t know how accurate it is, though I assume a lot of it’s pretty spot on, but I love how technical Berenson is in his descriptions of everything from the workings of the spy business to bomb construction. It really seems like he does an exhaustive, and exhausting, amount of research and, even if everything isn’t 100% accurate, it makes for a really good read. If you’re looking for a good, fast even in spite of the length, espionage thriller, I would definitely recommend The Ghost War. While I think you can read it without having read The Faithful Spy, I’d still suggest reading it first. Not only will it filling in the blanks, it’s a page turner itself.
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