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John Wells #1
The Faithful Spy
John Wells is the only American CIA agent ever to penetrate al Qaeda. Since before the attacks in 2001, Wells has been hiding in the mountains of Pakistan, biding his time, building his cover." "Now, on the orders of Omar Khadri - the malicious mastermind plotting more al Qaeda strikes on America - Wells is coming home. Neither Khadri nor Jennifer Exley, Wells's superior at Langley, knows quite what to expect. For Wells has changed during his years in the mountains. He has become a Muslim. He finds the United States decadent and shallow. Yet he hates al Qaeda and the way it uses Islam to justify its murderous assaults on innocents. He is a man alone, and the CIA - still reeling from its failure to predict 9/11 or find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - does not know whether to trust him. Among his handlers at Langley, only Exley believes in him, and even she sometimes wonders. And so the agency freezes Wells out, preferring to rely on high-tech means for gathering intelligence." "But as that strategy fails and Khadri moves closer to unleashing the most devastating terrorist attack in history, Wells and Exley must somehow find a way to stop him, with or without the government's consent.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,030 reviews
July 13, 2021
A good first book in the John Wells series. I've read one other book out of sequence and despite it being good I didn't feel a connection with the character. The Faithful Spy gives a good background and will be another series I'll follow.
John Wells is a CIA agent who penetrated Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, living among them for several years. He's under deep cover and hasn't made contact with the agency for two years. Then 9/11 happens. He was of no help in warning about the September attack and the CIA doesn't know if Wells is dead or alive and if he's now an enemy.
Senior Al Qaeda has a second plan. This time they sent Wells back to the US and to be ready for further instructions. It's obvious that neither Al Qaeda nor CIA fully trusts him so he's on his own to uncover the plan, and thwart an attack.
John Wells is a CIA agent who penetrated Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, living among them for several years. He's under deep cover and hasn't made contact with the agency for two years. Then 9/11 happens. He was of no help in warning about the September attack and the CIA doesn't know if Wells is dead or alive and if he's now an enemy.
Senior Al Qaeda has a second plan. This time they sent Wells back to the US and to be ready for further instructions. It's obvious that neither Al Qaeda nor CIA fully trusts him so he's on his own to uncover the plan, and thwart an attack.
March 20, 2016
Well...I think for you bottom line types I'd say this one is, "not bad". I'm not thrilled about it but neither am I really disappointed. I'll give some details below but I know some like an answer of sorts "up front".
Now what's good and what's not. Well the story is treading some well trodden ground though with a new twist. John Wells is a deep, deep cover CIA agent. He is the only agent CIA has ever place in al-Qaeda. Sadly there's a lot of doubt about him "back in Washington" as he doesn't check in very often (we're talking years here).
The story has for me a couple of real problems. First John having been under for SOOOOO LONG he's lonely and goes on and on about it. He's angsty and frankly annoying at times. (I'll mention one of the reasons for the angst later but it's not a big part of the problem...the angsty slowness is). There's also a sort of left handed romance with his CIA handler (whom as mentioned he hasn't seen in years). They had the magnetic attraction before he went undercover...now they're both divorced and we get the dancing around it all. Now there's also his suffering over leaving his wife (who divorced him when he left for an undetermined time and has since remarried) and his son who of course has no memory of him...
All in all the plot suffers from at times being pretty much submerged under John's personal problems. Maybe just me but I'd like to see more plot development and less angst.
Now there's one other thing I was asked about and no one else in a review has addressed it (that I saw anyway).
Yes Our hero John is a Muslim. I think the point in this in the book is largely to say, "see all Muslims aren't radicals". Now for those who worry, John is never tempted to change sides. He's very much of the Islam is a religion of peace. Though as things go on John "talks about" how he sees Islam more as a way of life than a religion.
There is some misrepresentation of Christianity and it's teachings. That could be (as it often is) simply lack of knowledge on the part of the writer. Religions are often misrepresented when they are written about.
So, the book is very PC and there's probably a hope on the part of the writer to show how war can be self-sustaining through injuries done by each side...
On these points I'd say decide for yourself. The story is on the whole (as I said) not bad while being a little slow moving and angsty. So, maybe try it for yourself. I may get to others in the series but probably not right away.
Now what's good and what's not. Well the story is treading some well trodden ground though with a new twist. John Wells is a deep, deep cover CIA agent. He is the only agent CIA has ever place in al-Qaeda. Sadly there's a lot of doubt about him "back in Washington" as he doesn't check in very often (we're talking years here).
The story has for me a couple of real problems. First John having been under for SOOOOO LONG he's lonely and goes on and on about it. He's angsty and frankly annoying at times. (I'll mention one of the reasons for the angst later but it's not a big part of the problem...the angsty slowness is). There's also a sort of left handed romance with his CIA handler (whom as mentioned he hasn't seen in years). They had the magnetic attraction before he went undercover...now they're both divorced and we get the dancing around it all. Now there's also his suffering over leaving his wife (who divorced him when he left for an undetermined time and has since remarried) and his son who of course has no memory of him...
All in all the plot suffers from at times being pretty much submerged under John's personal problems. Maybe just me but I'd like to see more plot development and less angst.
Now there's one other thing I was asked about and no one else in a review has addressed it (that I saw anyway).
Yes Our hero John is a Muslim. I think the point in this in the book is largely to say, "see all Muslims aren't radicals". Now for those who worry, John is never tempted to change sides. He's very much of the Islam is a religion of peace. Though as things go on John "talks about" how he sees Islam more as a way of life than a religion.
There is some misrepresentation of Christianity and it's teachings. That could be (as it often is) simply lack of knowledge on the part of the writer. Religions are often misrepresented when they are written about.
So, the book is very PC and there's probably a hope on the part of the writer to show how war can be self-sustaining through injuries done by each side...
On these points I'd say decide for yourself. The story is on the whole (as I said) not bad while being a little slow moving and angsty. So, maybe try it for yourself. I may get to others in the series but probably not right away.
December 5, 2014
I gave up on excellent spy novels years ago when my taste for LeCarre could not be satisfied with anyone else. So I decided to take a risk with Alex Berenson's "The Faithful Spy." If nothing else, this novel has restored my faith in the genre as relevant, as vital, and as a vehicle for truly good writing. I am convinced that Alex Berenson is every bit as good as the best of those who write fiction thrillers. I now have to check out other authors who write contemporary spy books; but not right away. I have 10 years of John Wells to catch up on. And I will.
October 18, 2023
Good book and well written in 2006. I don't enjoy deep cover spy novels as much as I like reading about the analysts. Since much history has occurred since the book's publication it seems a tiny bit dated. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Government bureaucracy always makes for a good foil.
June 2, 2016
Hang in there; if you like this first book in the John Wells series, you will love the 2nd book. I am currently in the 3rd book of John Wells series, and really enjoyed Mr Berenson's writing style, the characters development, and the plots. It would a treat for Vince Flynn's fans, including myself.
July 30, 2011
Alex Berenson paints John Wells, our 'faithful spy,' so well that I could imagine sitting across the table with steaks and beers chatting about his life. He's got a fully fleshed existence between the pages of this taut book, quite an accomplishment. We catch up to him after he's infiltrated into al Qaeda and has to sacrifice all the men in his cell to make contact with the Americans: he's been out of touch with his masters in the CIA but he's still faithful. It's a wonderful scene, one of many in this well crafted tale.
His recurring challenge in this book is his faith: for Americans, against the ranks of al Qaeda, for Islam and the Koran. After he receives a mission he leaves for America, not knowing what he'll do, but returns to Montana (his home) and discovers everything he left behind gone, mother dead, wife moved on, forbidden to see his son. Berenson devotes the proper amount of time and energy into developing this aspect of Wells: we feel for him how much he's sacrificed to do what he's done, how much will go unappreciated by the suits in Langley at the CIA.
The plot gets going late into the story. Wells, not quite trusted by his handler, is sent to-and-fro to check to see if he's who he said he was. He connects back up with his handler at the CIA, the predictable and unnecessary love interest element, and then walks into a situation he doesn't understand. He's not to be an instrument of a plot, merely a vector, someone who starts a catastrophe he can't stop. There's biowarfare and conventional bombs and all sorts of scary things out there. Dying, toward the end of the story, he doesn't let death stand in his way. He ends successful. It's how we want to think of our spies. Working against internal and external adversity, making the right things happen even after wading through the intelligence bureaucracy. (The CIA director is a laughable caricature in this first book, a bit painful in conception.)
The subsequent books feel rushed and smaller by comparison. Berenson feels like he took his time with this first story...and he got the main details right about John Wells. Well worth the read.
His recurring challenge in this book is his faith: for Americans, against the ranks of al Qaeda, for Islam and the Koran. After he receives a mission he leaves for America, not knowing what he'll do, but returns to Montana (his home) and discovers everything he left behind gone, mother dead, wife moved on, forbidden to see his son. Berenson devotes the proper amount of time and energy into developing this aspect of Wells: we feel for him how much he's sacrificed to do what he's done, how much will go unappreciated by the suits in Langley at the CIA.
The plot gets going late into the story. Wells, not quite trusted by his handler, is sent to-and-fro to check to see if he's who he said he was. He connects back up with his handler at the CIA, the predictable and unnecessary love interest element, and then walks into a situation he doesn't understand. He's not to be an instrument of a plot, merely a vector, someone who starts a catastrophe he can't stop. There's biowarfare and conventional bombs and all sorts of scary things out there. Dying, toward the end of the story, he doesn't let death stand in his way. He ends successful. It's how we want to think of our spies. Working against internal and external adversity, making the right things happen even after wading through the intelligence bureaucracy. (The CIA director is a laughable caricature in this first book, a bit painful in conception.)
The subsequent books feel rushed and smaller by comparison. Berenson feels like he took his time with this first story...and he got the main details right about John Wells. Well worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2007
This book started off somewhat interesting, including characters caught between the need for intelligence and the rights of suspects post-9/11. I suspected I'd disagree with it politically but hoped it would be a good read anyway. Halfway through, though, it turned from political thriller into a bad romance novel in which I hoped the protagonist and his handler/love interest would never meet again. She continued to believe in him despite serious questions within the CIA and refused to pull him in, becausetheirloveissotrue. Their romantic heart-to-heart, which lead to her absolute faith in him, consisted of her telling him about how she lost her virginity to a biker at a party. Yeah. But because she trusts him, he is able to single-handedly save the day.
I can't believe I finished the advanced reader. Worst book I've read in years.
I can't believe I finished the advanced reader. Worst book I've read in years.
December 19, 2020
I've enjoyed Berenson from his NYT days and I'm intrigued with his thoughts on COVID. I thought I would try a fictional work, and was surprisingly pleased. Language and action was PG in my rating. It was suspenseful and made me put down one of the other books I was reading until I finished it. I will try a second of this series and report back.
March 24, 2020
My rating: 3 ½ terrorists.
John Wells is a complicated man, a man of irony. Living in Afghanistan and Pakistan with tribal members, a Muslim convert, absent father, and American, all make for an interesting plot. The first ¾ was fantastic, but slowed down toward the end. Still, it was a fun read.
John Wells is a complicated man, a man of irony. Living in Afghanistan and Pakistan with tribal members, a Muslim convert, absent father, and American, all make for an interesting plot. The first ¾ was fantastic, but slowed down toward the end. Still, it was a fun read.
February 5, 2015
Alex Berenson’s first novel, THE FAITHFUL SPY introduces us to a new type of operative in the war on terror. John Wells is a CIA agent who goes underground trying to infiltrate al-Qaeda before 9/11. He is successful in penetrating the terrorist organization and proves his metal in Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Iraq. While embedded inside al-Qaeda he develops an attraction to Islam as a way of life and converts. Wells, who originally hailed from Montana remains loyal to his country despite his conversion, but will disappear from CIA radar for over ten years creating doubts about his reliability. He finds many practices in America difficult to accept which in part, is why he turned to Islam. Despite his commitment to his new religion, he finds al-Qaeda to be abhorrent and he never entertains the idea that he will not protect his country.
The novel begins shortly after 9/11 on the Shamal plain north of Kabul. Wells is leading a group of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters into a trap, but at the same time he must avoid American F-15 bombers circling overhead. At the same time Jennifer Exley, Wells’ CIA handler is aboard the USS Starker off the coast of Virginia waiting to interrogate another American who has ”flipped” to the Taliban. Her goal is to learn more about Jalal, Wells’ Islamic name as she has not heard from him in two years. From this point on the novel evolves into a suspenseful story that is stunning in detail.
Berenson creates fascinating characters which are true to life. Omar Khadri, travels freely in the United States and has set up a number of hidden cells throughout the country. Farouk Kahn, a physicist who has possessed enough nuclear material to create a dirty bomb. Tourik Durant, a graduate student studying micro-biology at McGill University in Montreal is developing a strain of Y pestis to unleash pneumonic plague. We are also presented with various CIA characters apart from Exley; Ellis Shafer and Vincent Duto who disagree over Wells’ loyalty.
The author exhibits excellent command of historical events. Whether discussing operations in Afghanistan or the United States, the actions taken by his characters ring true. Whether describing the rendition of suspected terrorists and their subsequent interrogation, Berenson strikes an accurate chord. He integrates historical nuances of the war, particularly the internal factions within al-Qaeda, the role of the U.S. military, and the attitude of American politicians. His discussion of Osama Bin-Ladin, the actions of the Pashtun tribes, the Northern Alliance, and the Taliban are accurate and provide the reader a history lesson while they become immersed in the plot surrounding Wells. Legitimate historical figures permeate the storyline ranging from Ayman al-Zawaheri, al-Qaeda’s number two person to A.K. Kahn, the Pakistani nuclear scientist who exports his expertise.
Berenson’s opposition to American Iraqi policy is apparent. Throughout the book we are privy to his feelings about torture and other techniques employed to gain information from prisoners. As we read on American errors in Afghanistan become clear as the Bush administration drops the ball and invades Iraq under false pretenses. Overall, Berenson has created a credible scenario with a new type of character. John Wells believes he has failed his country by not warning his handlers about 9/11 and other events, and wants to make sure he does not fail again.
As a side bar to Berenson’s first effort, the New York Times reporter earned the Edgar Award for A FAITHFUL SPY and has written a number of sequels developing the character of John Wells in a number of interesting ways.
The novel begins shortly after 9/11 on the Shamal plain north of Kabul. Wells is leading a group of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters into a trap, but at the same time he must avoid American F-15 bombers circling overhead. At the same time Jennifer Exley, Wells’ CIA handler is aboard the USS Starker off the coast of Virginia waiting to interrogate another American who has ”flipped” to the Taliban. Her goal is to learn more about Jalal, Wells’ Islamic name as she has not heard from him in two years. From this point on the novel evolves into a suspenseful story that is stunning in detail.
Berenson creates fascinating characters which are true to life. Omar Khadri, travels freely in the United States and has set up a number of hidden cells throughout the country. Farouk Kahn, a physicist who has possessed enough nuclear material to create a dirty bomb. Tourik Durant, a graduate student studying micro-biology at McGill University in Montreal is developing a strain of Y pestis to unleash pneumonic plague. We are also presented with various CIA characters apart from Exley; Ellis Shafer and Vincent Duto who disagree over Wells’ loyalty.
The author exhibits excellent command of historical events. Whether discussing operations in Afghanistan or the United States, the actions taken by his characters ring true. Whether describing the rendition of suspected terrorists and their subsequent interrogation, Berenson strikes an accurate chord. He integrates historical nuances of the war, particularly the internal factions within al-Qaeda, the role of the U.S. military, and the attitude of American politicians. His discussion of Osama Bin-Ladin, the actions of the Pashtun tribes, the Northern Alliance, and the Taliban are accurate and provide the reader a history lesson while they become immersed in the plot surrounding Wells. Legitimate historical figures permeate the storyline ranging from Ayman al-Zawaheri, al-Qaeda’s number two person to A.K. Kahn, the Pakistani nuclear scientist who exports his expertise.
Berenson’s opposition to American Iraqi policy is apparent. Throughout the book we are privy to his feelings about torture and other techniques employed to gain information from prisoners. As we read on American errors in Afghanistan become clear as the Bush administration drops the ball and invades Iraq under false pretenses. Overall, Berenson has created a credible scenario with a new type of character. John Wells believes he has failed his country by not warning his handlers about 9/11 and other events, and wants to make sure he does not fail again.
As a side bar to Berenson’s first effort, the New York Times reporter earned the Edgar Award for A FAITHFUL SPY and has written a number of sequels developing the character of John Wells in a number of interesting ways.
December 19, 2011
The horrific events of 9/11 have changed the espionage thriller genre and new authors with huge followings have taken up the war on terror. Among these popular authors is Alex Berenson. He brilliantly introduces readers to John Wells, a CIA operative who has given up his family, parents, wife, and son to successfully infiltrate al Qaeda. Both his agency and the terrorists are wary of him.
He has spent 10 years proving himself to UBL and al Zawahiri in the desolate plateaus of Pakistan and in the bitter Chechen plains. He has even converted to Islam, but some of the jhadi still don’t fully trust the American who they know as Jalal. His own agency doubts him since he didn’t stop the 9/11 attacks. “He never said how [he infiltrated al Qaeda] and Exley never asked, since the answer no doubt included violations of agency regulations and U. S. law. Langley didn’t know what to do with Wells…Wells was simply trying to prove himself to al Qaeda while sending back what he could about the group’s structure and plans.” My heart missed a beat or two when Wells killed five of his men so he could give information to a Special Force commander.
But the narrative became more intriguing when a little girl spots the fighter jets coming towards the United airliner. The terror of the people on the plane was palpable. Explosions happen in California. Are these diversions or a prelude for THE attack that will dwarf the events of 9/11 that al Zawahiri spoke of when Wells met him and two other men in Pakistan? Is that why he is being sent to America? Does he have enough information to pass onto Langley to stop Khadi and the Qaeda sleepers already in America? He turns to Jennifer Exley, his handler and the only one who still believes in him to help him stop two heinous plans.
Berenson gets 5 stars for inventing the faithful spy, John Wells. Who is he really faithful to? Allah, al Qaeda, his country? The twists and turns of the great attacks on the U.S. are gripping and heart stopping. But the romantic Wells/Exley subplot was silly and turned me off and the epilogue was unsatisfactory for me to take a star of my rating. Despite these complaints, I look forward to reading Berenson’s sophomore entry of the John Wells Series.
He has spent 10 years proving himself to UBL and al Zawahiri in the desolate plateaus of Pakistan and in the bitter Chechen plains. He has even converted to Islam, but some of the jhadi still don’t fully trust the American who they know as Jalal. His own agency doubts him since he didn’t stop the 9/11 attacks. “He never said how [he infiltrated al Qaeda] and Exley never asked, since the answer no doubt included violations of agency regulations and U. S. law. Langley didn’t know what to do with Wells…Wells was simply trying to prove himself to al Qaeda while sending back what he could about the group’s structure and plans.” My heart missed a beat or two when Wells killed five of his men so he could give information to a Special Force commander.
But the narrative became more intriguing when a little girl spots the fighter jets coming towards the United airliner. The terror of the people on the plane was palpable. Explosions happen in California. Are these diversions or a prelude for THE attack that will dwarf the events of 9/11 that al Zawahiri spoke of when Wells met him and two other men in Pakistan? Is that why he is being sent to America? Does he have enough information to pass onto Langley to stop Khadi and the Qaeda sleepers already in America? He turns to Jennifer Exley, his handler and the only one who still believes in him to help him stop two heinous plans.
Berenson gets 5 stars for inventing the faithful spy, John Wells. Who is he really faithful to? Allah, al Qaeda, his country? The twists and turns of the great attacks on the U.S. are gripping and heart stopping. But the romantic Wells/Exley subplot was silly and turned me off and the epilogue was unsatisfactory for me to take a star of my rating. Despite these complaints, I look forward to reading Berenson’s sophomore entry of the John Wells Series.
November 17, 2018
"Everything depends on which end of the shotgun you're on"
This is kind of a twist on what we know to be real world terrorism. We've all heard of "sleepers" who have infiltrated our historically welcoming (although that's changed) societies, and whose sole mission is to wait for the go-ahead from organizations such as al qaeda to initiate acts of terrorism. The Faithful Spy is about an American muslim, John Wells, who has infiltrated a terrorism organization, and whose mission is to sit in wait until the right time to foil their plots. To pull this off he must go years without any contact with anyone in the states (much like a "sleeper"). Consequently, he's not entirely trusted by either side. He must prove his loyalty - to both!
I really enjoyed this book. I had read a later book in the series which I was given, and liked that one so much I decided to back up and read earlier books. So far, so good!
This is kind of a twist on what we know to be real world terrorism. We've all heard of "sleepers" who have infiltrated our historically welcoming (although that's changed) societies, and whose sole mission is to wait for the go-ahead from organizations such as al qaeda to initiate acts of terrorism. The Faithful Spy is about an American muslim, John Wells, who has infiltrated a terrorism organization, and whose mission is to sit in wait until the right time to foil their plots. To pull this off he must go years without any contact with anyone in the states (much like a "sleeper"). Consequently, he's not entirely trusted by either side. He must prove his loyalty - to both!
I really enjoyed this book. I had read a later book in the series which I was given, and liked that one so much I decided to back up and read earlier books. So far, so good!
October 23, 2014
Not a bad spy thriller & certainly relevant today. One thing the story shows quite clearly is how bureaucrats with their CYA mentality have a lot of trouble with the terrorist threat. Nothing is ever certain & chances have to be taken.
There's a good, balanced view of religion throughout the book. Prejudices are shown from both sides.
There's a good, balanced view of religion throughout the book. Prejudices are shown from both sides.
December 11, 2016
I found this first in the series average at best and more depressing than I expected. 4 of 10 stars
April 6, 2017
Al Qaeda from the inside out: a thriller filled with suspense
John Wells is the only CIA operative ever to succeed in infiltrating Al Qaeda. Now, after a decade undercover in Afghanistan and Chechnya, he finally appears to have gained the confidence of the group’s top leaders. Summoned to an audience with Ayman al-Zawahiri, Wells is dispatched to the USA to play a key role in a terrorist plot to rival 9/11.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Wells is no longer trusted by the CIA — with the exception of his handler, Jennifer Exley, with whom he is in love. Nor is he trusted by the brilliant Al Qaeda agent to whom he has been assigned, known to him only as Omar Khadri. Wells must maneuver between these two poles of suspicion, all the while fighting to survive, preserving his relationship with Exley, and exploring the depths of the Islamic faith he adopted in Afghanistan.
The Faithful Spy has all the elements of a best-selling thriller, and so it was. An Edgar Award winner when it was published in 2006, the book rose to #1 on the Times’ paperback bestseller list. It was followed by four more novels, all of them featuring John Wells, several of them bestsellers in their own right.
Alex Berenson was an investigative reporter for more than a decade for The New York Times, serving for nearly a year in Iraq but focusing largely on business issues. Since last year, he has been working full-time as a novelist. Berenson is not yet 40, so we can look forward to many more adventures with John Wells.
(From www.malwarwickonbooks.com)
John Wells is the only CIA operative ever to succeed in infiltrating Al Qaeda. Now, after a decade undercover in Afghanistan and Chechnya, he finally appears to have gained the confidence of the group’s top leaders. Summoned to an audience with Ayman al-Zawahiri, Wells is dispatched to the USA to play a key role in a terrorist plot to rival 9/11.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Wells is no longer trusted by the CIA — with the exception of his handler, Jennifer Exley, with whom he is in love. Nor is he trusted by the brilliant Al Qaeda agent to whom he has been assigned, known to him only as Omar Khadri. Wells must maneuver between these two poles of suspicion, all the while fighting to survive, preserving his relationship with Exley, and exploring the depths of the Islamic faith he adopted in Afghanistan.
The Faithful Spy has all the elements of a best-selling thriller, and so it was. An Edgar Award winner when it was published in 2006, the book rose to #1 on the Times’ paperback bestseller list. It was followed by four more novels, all of them featuring John Wells, several of them bestsellers in their own right.
Alex Berenson was an investigative reporter for more than a decade for The New York Times, serving for nearly a year in Iraq but focusing largely on business issues. Since last year, he has been working full-time as a novelist. Berenson is not yet 40, so we can look forward to many more adventures with John Wells.
(From www.malwarwickonbooks.com)
March 16, 2022
Another Modern-day spy novel...1st in a series of which I will read more!!! involves deep-cover CIA agent John Wells, a Jack Reacherish type...infiltrated al Quaeda even converting to Islam...saves the US from an attack on Times Square in spite of being suspect, except by his love interest in the Agency
March 18, 2014
The latest installment of this series got a glowing review in The Economist so I was intrigued and decided to check out the first book. Being a fan of the international spy thriller genre (which, in my opinion, was perfected by the likes of John Le Carre and Alan Furst), I was curious to see how Berenson would hold up. He seems to have the right kind of credentials - reporter for the New York Times with a stint in Baghdad, a contract from Random House, a movie deal. The subject matter of terrorism is relevant and timely (more so in 2006 when this book was published). He does a pretty good job as a first-time author.
The basic premise is this: the CIA has managed to infiltrate the highest echelons of al Queda in the years leading up to 9/11 with an accomplished and committed spy, John Wells. Wells speaks perfect Arabic (and a smattering of other languages), has converted to Islam, and has painstakingly managed to gain the trust of al Queda's top brass, including the big dog Osama bin Laden himself. The book kicks off when Wells is assigned to return to the US on a top-secret mission from the terrorists. He briefly turns himself in to his CIA handlers before taking off again.
From then on the book sometimes breaks new ground. 0Berenson raises genuine questions about the American way of fighting terror. There are detailed scenes of interrogation that are now familiar to people through films like "Zero Dark Thirty". There are detailed descriptions of the desolation of villages in both Afghanistan and Iraq which hint at the poverty and desperation of the people living there.
At other times, the book treads well-worn cliches and touches upon old tropes. There's the obligatory romance, this time with his supervisor/handler. There's the obligatory plot twist near the end. There's even the obligatory irrational bureaucrat who is seemingly more interested in playing politics than in saving lives. When will these people understand?!
Character development is pretty poor overall. Most bad guys blend into one and even the hero is strangely distant. We don't (or at least I didn't) feel much connection to him at all, despite lengthy passages talking about his mental angst and his motivations. The plot (which most of the times is the driving force in books of this kind) is decently well-paced and has only a couple of minor holes. I can look past that without much difficulty.
All in all, this is a very solid first novel by someone new to the game. I will be checking out more books in the series as well.
The basic premise is this: the CIA has managed to infiltrate the highest echelons of al Queda in the years leading up to 9/11 with an accomplished and committed spy, John Wells. Wells speaks perfect Arabic (and a smattering of other languages), has converted to Islam, and has painstakingly managed to gain the trust of al Queda's top brass, including the big dog Osama bin Laden himself. The book kicks off when Wells is assigned to return to the US on a top-secret mission from the terrorists. He briefly turns himself in to his CIA handlers before taking off again.
From then on the book sometimes breaks new ground. 0Berenson raises genuine questions about the American way of fighting terror. There are detailed scenes of interrogation that are now familiar to people through films like "Zero Dark Thirty". There are detailed descriptions of the desolation of villages in both Afghanistan and Iraq which hint at the poverty and desperation of the people living there.
At other times, the book treads well-worn cliches and touches upon old tropes. There's the obligatory romance, this time with his supervisor/handler. There's the obligatory plot twist near the end. There's even the obligatory irrational bureaucrat who is seemingly more interested in playing politics than in saving lives. When will these people understand?!
Character development is pretty poor overall. Most bad guys blend into one and even the hero is strangely distant. We don't (or at least I didn't) feel much connection to him at all, despite lengthy passages talking about his mental angst and his motivations. The plot (which most of the times is the driving force in books of this kind) is decently well-paced and has only a couple of minor holes. I can look past that without much difficulty.
All in all, this is a very solid first novel by someone new to the game. I will be checking out more books in the series as well.
September 30, 2020
I'm always on the lookout for a new spy thriller series to sink my teeth into, and this one's been on my radar for quite a while. Introducing John Wells, a deep cover CIA operative whose loyalties are under suspicion when he makes contact with his handler for the first time in years under dubious circumstances, this was a pretty good debut novel that managed to eschew some, though not all the usual clichés of the genre. The plot came with more than enough twists and action to keep me interested. I could have done without the obligatory romance subplot, and the ending felt somewhat abrupt, but otherwise this was a decent series opener. I'll be back for more.
March 26, 2009
a very well done espionage novel about John Wells, a CIA spy who infilitrates Al Quaida and comes in from the cold to attempt to stop a plot to destroy New York City with a dirty bomb. The characters are very well drawn, and Wells problems, issues and characterization is much better drawn out than in the next two books. The various terrorists are also given more than a little attention.
Somewhat like some other super agents of recent vintage Wells is a killing machine, but he has a soul and that goes a long way in this novel.
Read it in a day.
Somewhat like some other super agents of recent vintage Wells is a killing machine, but he has a soul and that goes a long way in this novel.
Read it in a day.
Read
March 21, 2021I read this long ago and remember nothing about it. Probably not that good.
April 15, 2015
John Wells, deep undercover in Afghanistan-Pakistan border mountains, still sacrifices Arab fellows to American strangers. Only CIA Jennifer Exley is "certain Wells hadn't flipped" p 308. We are too. This review is tricky, where to plug spoiler alerts, because I was fairly positive, for many pages, that John had to die, Jen had to die, good guys were doomed.
How and how long can he survive? How can he fight alone? In US, he still hides, so villain leader Omar Khadri will include him in major US attack. Assume NY is the center of your world, like I was in Toronto for SARS contagion. Your feet will pound the pavement, your heart will beat out of your chest, harder until you think you may collapse dead alongside the lone hero. Don't sit on the edge of your seat - you'll fall off.
Jen is "basically logical, and yet somehow she had fallen for a man she had seen for all of two weeks in the last ten years .. cynical moments she wondered if .. lost in an escape fantasy. A strong silent man to take her away" p 309.
"White Book allows injuries, "any amount of pain", subjective, as long as no "severe and permanent injury .. The threat of pain is often more effective than pain itself" p 318. Scientist Farouk Khan, hired by Pakistani nuclear program, leaves a geiger counter behind, so his belief "Americans had rules" p 321 doesn't apply.
"There is one rule. I'm not supposed to kill you. Not on purpose, anyway. Then he smiled .. But I am allowed to make you wish you were dead" p 334 says Saul, lead interrogater at Diego Garcia base. Farouk gives verifiable plutonium and uranium mine/ fallout - names, bank accounts, safe house, sympathizers, radioactive purchases.
Khadri doesn't trust fanatics or Tarik Dourant, abusive husband, "brilliant biochemist and commited to the cause" in Montreal "come to al Qaeda out of loneliness" p 347. I thought Tarik would lock despised wife in with radioactive poison. Khadri rolls "plummiest Hyde Park accent he could muster" p 352 for "reality show .. pre-qualify" p 352 fools unemployed Tony DiFerri into distracting attacks, yet tell questioners nothing.
"Suitcase-bomb search .. in New York, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. A haystack made of needles" p 360. Khadri nicknames attack 'Yellow' to John, for a target in downtown Manhattan. Cabs are yellow there.
John is the go-between who does not know he has been betrayed. Jen traces smell of cigarette smoke to Arabs. Show me a clever gal who insists on tagging along, actually pulls trigger when John gives her gun. John's warning to CIA doesn't get past switchboard. Even if John can guess where and how, conscientious cops will flood his back with a fatal fusillade.
How and how long can he survive? How can he fight alone? In US, he still hides, so villain leader Omar Khadri will include him in major US attack. Assume NY is the center of your world, like I was in Toronto for SARS contagion. Your feet will pound the pavement, your heart will beat out of your chest, harder until you think you may collapse dead alongside the lone hero. Don't sit on the edge of your seat - you'll fall off.
Jen is "basically logical, and yet somehow she had fallen for a man she had seen for all of two weeks in the last ten years .. cynical moments she wondered if .. lost in an escape fantasy. A strong silent man to take her away" p 309.
"White Book allows injuries, "any amount of pain", subjective, as long as no "severe and permanent injury .. The threat of pain is often more effective than pain itself" p 318. Scientist Farouk Khan, hired by Pakistani nuclear program, leaves a geiger counter behind, so his belief "Americans had rules" p 321 doesn't apply.
"There is one rule. I'm not supposed to kill you. Not on purpose, anyway. Then he smiled .. But I am allowed to make you wish you were dead" p 334 says Saul, lead interrogater at Diego Garcia base. Farouk gives verifiable plutonium and uranium mine/ fallout - names, bank accounts, safe house, sympathizers, radioactive purchases.
Khadri doesn't trust fanatics or Tarik Dourant, abusive husband, "brilliant biochemist and commited to the cause" in Montreal "come to al Qaeda out of loneliness" p 347. I thought Tarik would lock despised wife in with radioactive poison. Khadri rolls "plummiest Hyde Park accent he could muster" p 352 for "reality show .. pre-qualify" p 352 fools unemployed Tony DiFerri into distracting attacks, yet tell questioners nothing.
"Suitcase-bomb search .. in New York, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. A haystack made of needles" p 360. Khadri nicknames attack 'Yellow' to John, for a target in downtown Manhattan. Cabs are yellow there.
John is the go-between who does not know he has been betrayed. Jen traces smell of cigarette smoke to Arabs. Show me a clever gal who insists on tagging along, actually pulls trigger when John gives her gun. John's warning to CIA doesn't get past switchboard. Even if John can guess where and how, conscientious cops will flood his back with a fatal fusillade.
September 7, 2016
One word review: anger
Now to expand: this book did nothing but feed off hate. I have no idea why GR recommended this book to me. I'm actually a bit upset.
Now to expand: this book did nothing but feed off hate. I have no idea why GR recommended this book to me. I'm actually a bit upset.
June 12, 2020
Well crafted with realistic characters.
December 23, 2021
A great yarn — fairly plausible and gripping. First a first book this is remarkable. The ending left me wanting more John Wells stories.
April 14, 2013
A nuanced, gruesome spy thriller.
The basic idea is original if not easily believable. A CIA agent manages to infiltrate Al Qaeda and then quite sincerely becomes a Muslim without however losing his basic patriotism and loyalty to America. The result is that his CIA bosses no longer trust him while his Al Qaeda bosses do not completely trust him either. He is a man in danger of being lost between two worlds. This part of the book is subtle and nuanced. Berenson describes the psychology of the Islamist fanatics in a way that is credible and deep. I found it not only enjoyable to read but came away with a better understanding of today's headlines. During this book Wells is infected with bacteria, but this ailment is oddly, not mentioned in any of the other Wells novels.
John Wells serves as a unique character with which to explore some fresh perspectives. He exists in a kind of permanent grey area. He has spent years "serving" with al Qaeda in Afghanistan and has come to respect the Islamic faith and many of the people in the Middle East. He wrestles with the ramifications of America's military involvement in Iraq. Upon returning to America for the first time in years, he encounters the decadence, selfishness, and sense of entitlement that al Qaeda hates - and finds himself sickened by it as well. But Wells is also committed to his sworn duty to protect America from terrorists and has no problem being 100% badass when the situation calls for it. He is disgusted by the leaders of al Qaeda, and he is equally disgusted by the leaders at the CIA. It is this tension that propels the plot forward a lot of the time, and Berenson makes it work really well.
Berenson also use Wells as a vehicle to critique American culture. When Wells comes to America struggling with the radical ideology he has learned in Chechnya and Pakistan, he sees America as shallow, materialistic black hole but cannot bring himself to bring harm to it.
The basic idea is original if not easily believable. A CIA agent manages to infiltrate Al Qaeda and then quite sincerely becomes a Muslim without however losing his basic patriotism and loyalty to America. The result is that his CIA bosses no longer trust him while his Al Qaeda bosses do not completely trust him either. He is a man in danger of being lost between two worlds. This part of the book is subtle and nuanced. Berenson describes the psychology of the Islamist fanatics in a way that is credible and deep. I found it not only enjoyable to read but came away with a better understanding of today's headlines. During this book Wells is infected with bacteria, but this ailment is oddly, not mentioned in any of the other Wells novels.
John Wells serves as a unique character with which to explore some fresh perspectives. He exists in a kind of permanent grey area. He has spent years "serving" with al Qaeda in Afghanistan and has come to respect the Islamic faith and many of the people in the Middle East. He wrestles with the ramifications of America's military involvement in Iraq. Upon returning to America for the first time in years, he encounters the decadence, selfishness, and sense of entitlement that al Qaeda hates - and finds himself sickened by it as well. But Wells is also committed to his sworn duty to protect America from terrorists and has no problem being 100% badass when the situation calls for it. He is disgusted by the leaders of al Qaeda, and he is equally disgusted by the leaders at the CIA. It is this tension that propels the plot forward a lot of the time, and Berenson makes it work really well.
Berenson also use Wells as a vehicle to critique American culture. When Wells comes to America struggling with the radical ideology he has learned in Chechnya and Pakistan, he sees America as shallow, materialistic black hole but cannot bring himself to bring harm to it.
August 13, 2016
This is book 1 of 11 in the John Wells spy thriller series. It's 352 pages, rated 3.96 / 5.0 on GoodReads and I rated it 4.0. This novel was nominated for the Barry and Edgar award for Best First novel, and I'd agree that it was a good opening for Alex Berenson.
This book is about an American agent who is deeply embedded with Islamic extremists who want to destroy the USA. There's a constant back and forth with John Wells trying to prove his loyalty to both sides, a love interest, and a ticking-bomb type ending. In the book, Wells converts to Islam and embraces the religion, but this never caused him to question his role in stopping the terrorists. However, it was one of the reasons he was not trusted by his handlers, so it was a useful story tool.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It moved along well, even though is was a little heavy. It was a little depressing to realize that humans, who walk the earth as the same time as I do, really do want to do the horrible things that are in this book, and that bummed me out.
This book is about an American agent who is deeply embedded with Islamic extremists who want to destroy the USA. There's a constant back and forth with John Wells trying to prove his loyalty to both sides, a love interest, and a ticking-bomb type ending. In the book, Wells converts to Islam and embraces the religion, but this never caused him to question his role in stopping the terrorists. However, it was one of the reasons he was not trusted by his handlers, so it was a useful story tool.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It moved along well, even though is was a little heavy. It was a little depressing to realize that humans, who walk the earth as the same time as I do, really do want to do the horrible things that are in this book, and that bummed me out.
May 16, 2020
Aaah what an amazing thriller. I was addicted since the beginning till the end. Fast-paced reading and I like very much the writting of this author.
A CIA operative that was long off the grid due to his task, to get trust from some of the high rank al-Qaeda soldiers in the middle east, but then he discovers that the safety of millions of americans are in jeopardy...he returns to US years after to avoid a similar 9/11 event.
Great book !
5 ⭐️
A CIA operative that was long off the grid due to his task, to get trust from some of the high rank al-Qaeda soldiers in the middle east, but then he discovers that the safety of millions of americans are in jeopardy...he returns to US years after to avoid a similar 9/11 event.
Great book !
5 ⭐️
February 19, 2019
This book is a heterogeneous mixture of strikingly unrealistic plot elements and strikingly realistic details. It desperately tries to seem homogeneous, and the appropriate details almost do the trick. Almost.
August 27, 2013
Talk about stress? Enjoyed the Wells character. More too follow...
July 12, 2017
This book is interesting, because the "spy" is different. John Wells has gone so far undercover to find information on terrorists in Afghanistan that he is actually forgotten by most of the CIA. And then he reappears with some information that could help save the United States from another attack. I really like these kinds of books where good guys go "off the grid" - the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn and the Sam Fisher Splinter Cell series, I think, are both terrific. What I didn't like is that this book leaves the main character for periods of time to focus on the other characters, and their stories are a bit predictable. I have only read two John Wells books (this is the first one in the series), but I might fill in the gaps and read the next. He is the kind of character who, if healthy, could be very interesting in our war against terror, post September 11th.
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