The Paladin

by David Ignatius

CIA operations officer Michael Dunne is tasked with infiltrating an Italian news organization that smells like a front for an enemy intelligence service. Headed by an American journalist, the self- styled “people’s bandits” run a cyber operation unlike anything the CIA has seen before. Fast, slick and indiscriminate, they steal secrets from everywhere and anyone, and exploit them in ways the CIA can neither understand nor stop.


Dunne knows it’s illegal to run a covert op on an American citizen or journalist, but he has never refused an assignment and his boss has assured his protection. Soon after Dunne infiltrates the organization, however, his cover disintegrates. When news of the operation breaks and someone leaks that Dunne had an extramarital affair while on the job, the CIA leaves him to take the fall. Now a year later, fresh out of jail, Dunne sets out to hunt down and take vengeance on the people who destroyed his life.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Mystery, Audiobook, Spy Thriller, Crime

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

David Ignatius, a prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post, has been covering the Middle East and the CIA for more than twenty-five years. His novels include Agents of Innocence, Body of Lies, and The Increment, now in development for a major motion picture by Jerry Bruckheimer. He lives in Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Paladin by David Ignatius takes the reader on a thrill ride with the CIA, the FBI and the ever-changing world of high tech and high finance. Michael Dunne is assigned by the CIA to an undercover investigation of an Italian news group led by an American. There is evidence that secrets are being used illegally, However, Michael soon finds himself thrown to the wolves, charged with running a covert operation on Americans. No one speaks on his behalf and he is then sentenced to a year in prison, as his marriage falls apart and he loses custody of his young daughter. He has a long time to plot his revenge on the people who abandoned him at the worst time in his life. Upon his release, he sets in motion a plan to pursue his enemies, no matter what it takes. The Paladin is a high-energy narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seat and will show how technology in the wrong hands and for the wrong purposes can lead to a world of trouble. Highly recommended. Thank you to W.W. Norton and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing exceptional here. An average story. 4 of 10 stars

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ignatius’s new thriller, “The Paladin,” explores, in part, the Armageddon that is possible via precisely that sort of online sound and fury. Imagine a group of brilliant hackers and software designers creating fake news and bogus videos so real that, once spread online, they crash markets and bring down governments. Okay, it’s not hard to imagine. For all we know, it’s happening right now.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ultimately an okay read, but an extremely shallow book.

But...

It could have been and should have been so much better. While I am impressed by the author’s resume (New York Times Best Selling Author, Washington Post Columnist), I think he wasn’t really showcased well here.

Now...

This book was as an advance reading copy (ARC), so I don’t know if that had anything to do with it...

But...

This book just didn’t grab me the way some thrillers typically do.

Why?

Some of his scenes exploring the outer reaches of today’s video technology were educational and quite scary, but the overall plot dragged a little. I didn’t find myself engaged with his protagonist and couldn’t share his commitment to his cause, either personal or professional.

But...

I wanted to like the book, and other reviewers have shared being impressed with his past novels, so I might check the author out. Like I said, it wasn’t a bad book, it just didn’t wow me.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

’ve liked other books by this author, but I hated the protagonist in this one so much that I just should have stopped reading. Dunne agreed to do a job that he knew was illegal, he got caught, he cheated on his pregnant wife, he acted like a jerk in court so was sentenced to a year in prison and yet, somehow, everyone else was responsible for his problems. After his release from prison, he started a company to aid victims of cybercrimes. But that was just a sideline, his overriding goal was revenge. Unfortunately, I did not care whether he got revenge. I wanted the bad guys to win. Frankly, I thought their plan was pretty clever.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[˗ˏˋ maddie ˊˎ˗ · Rating 1 out of 5]

full disclosure: i received an arc from a goodreads giveaway.

wow. woooooow. the white male author just jumped out.

from our main guy's wife being a sexy virgin who only had two modes: active seduction or hysterical shrew (that's how all women do, right? and the fact that he kept mentioning she was a virgin before he met her made me want to punch this guy hard enough to give him a concussion), to thinking a conspiracy designed to implicate him would simply fall apart with an 'i didn't do it, no i don't have any proof, but i do have a penis and... i'm white *waggles eyebrows*', to the fact that he cheated on his wife of his own volition and then goes around blaming every other person in the vicinity for it because, of course, he can't be responsible! he's a well-off white man! his daughter was a complete non-entity to him, proven over and over again by her serving as an extension only of his hot brazilian virgin bride.

i hate this man. HATE. and the whole book i'm supposed to be rooting for him to get revenge? why? he sucks, he sucks so much, so much i wanted him to just fall into a woodchipper, book over, the end, sorry you had to read about him as long as you did, kiddo. he also mostly engineered his own fate by being a dick, and then a white-man-confident dumbass. this family that's so important to him... that he voted for trump and somehow thinks he has the luxury of 'not caring about politics'? his kid isn't white, his wife isn't white - in fact, she's likely very dark-skinned (half-mozambican and half-brazilian) who makes her living speaking portuguese. so he's actively made his family's lives more unsafe, then cheated on his wife on top of that with a blonde-haired white woman and i'm supposed to want.... what, here? for him to.... get back together with her? THAT'S how the book ends? and i'm supposed to ENJOY that? HOW. WHAT. WTF.

how 'bout instead: FALL INTO A WOODCHIPPER, YOU PIECE OF SHIT. there's your rewrite; you're welcome.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 rounded down to 3 sneaky cyber stars

This my first foray into David Ignatius’ fiction. I do however know him from him from the journalistic realm. He writes for the Washington Post, and often appears as a contributor on television news stations. I understand that most of Mr. Igantius’ works of fiction have espionage as a main plotline. True to form, this book centers on spying. Both sanctioned and unsanctioned spying and the trouble that can cause. This is a high-tech cyber thriller told in dual timelines.

As the book opens, Michael Dunne, our main character, was just released from prison. The story switches back and forth between events that occurred before prison, and after his release. One timeline explains what got this CIA tech geek sent to prison, and the other takes us on his journey for revenge after his release. Michael Dunne was just following orders. However, when details were leaked about whom he was spying on, the CIA went dark. It denied all knowledge of his mission and left him to fend for himself. Now he wants to know who caused that, and why they did it.

This is a deep dive into the high-tech world of hackers, market manipulators, and false information peddlers. Can you say ‘Fake News’? It was both enlightening and very frightening. I work in IT. I understood most of the digital talking points. I suspect that it might be harder for non-tech-savvy readers to follow some of the technical nuances. Sometimes I thought that the description of all the tech toys, and server farms, and processes slowed down the plot. Occasionally it was a lot to wade through.

Other than that, this story took me around the world, introduced me to some interesting characters, and kept me turning the pages. It was a good solid read. I would recommend it to readers who enjoys a tech thriller with a bounty of spy craft scenes.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, W. W. Norton and Company; and the author, David Ignatius, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof, this book was bad. Very disappointing novel from Ignatius, whose previous novels are by far more enjoyable.

The worse part of this new novel were the characters, all unlikeable and bland. The main character is painfully unlikable and WAY too much time is spent describing in obnoxious detail his Pittsburgh, blue collar roots. The hacker kids (because that is what they are in the story, of course) in this are laughably stereotypical and the dialogue is horrible, like Ignatius watched a few episodes of NCIS and figured that how smart kids who are good with computers are like. Everyone else in the story is completely unremarkable and painfully stereotypical as well. As for the plot itself, I got bored with it half way in and so did the author it felt.

By far Ignatius' worst novel, definitely recommend reading any of his earlier novels.

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read about 25% and so far ... I am over-whelmed with complex technical jargon, mostly unexplained, leaving me struggling to follow the plot ... I do not like the main protagonist who is really stupid and self-destructive ... normally this would be enough for me to stop reading ... however, Ignatius is a great author, so I will read on

Turned out to be a good decision ... the jargon stopped ... the character became more likable ... and the plot was just dynamite

ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER ... in light of my decision to try to write a novel concerning A.I. and Cybercrime set in 2050, I have re-read The Paladin ... and learned much from Ignatius' non-fiction references that will be useful ... I also enjoyed the fiction much more than my first read

[Donna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Ignatius writes reliably entertaining spy novels, and when I saw that this one was available, I hopped right on it. Big thanks go to Net Galley, Edelweiss, and W.W. Norton for the review copies. It’s for sale now.

Michael Dunne is a career operative for the CIA, and he’s sent to sniff out what appears to be an enemy intelligence service fronting as a news organization. This particular assignment is risky because it’s illegal to run surveillance on journalists, but his boss tells him that he’ll run interference for him, and like a good soldier, he goes. He does what he’s been told to do, and next thing he knows, he’s been arrested for spying on the press, and nobody at the CIA will go to bat for him. What the hell just happened? With his career in tatters, and his family torn asunder, Dunne’s only interest, upon emerging from the year he spends in prison, is vengeance. He wants to find the guy that set him up and ruin him. From there come multiple surprising twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.

My first David Ignatius book was The Director, which I won in a Goodreads giveaway in 2014. I liked it so well that I bought one of his older novels during my annual pilgrimage to Powell’s City of Books that summer. In 2018 I read and reviewed The Quantum Spy, a title perched on my favorites shelf not only for its brilliant pacing and suspense, but also for its insightful take on the challenges faced by Asian Americans within sensitive government positions. The strong impression I received reading it is likely to blame for my being slow on the uptake this time around. I realized when I finished reading The Paladin that it wasn’t as strong as his earlier novels, but I don’t think it’s fair to judge an excellent writer against himself when rating a novel. I initially rated this book five stars because there’s still no other spy novelist whose work I like better than his…except.

There’s a serious problem with his use of gender roles here, one I am surprised not to have noticed from the get-go, because it’s so obvious. Another reviewer opened my eyes and made me ashamed of myself for not homing in on the problem, because it’s not a small one.

There are two women that play important roles in our protagonist’s life. One is the virgin, and the other is the whore. Frankly it is so obnoxious that for any other writer, I would have given a negative rating and a scathing review. I am being measured in my response because I still see this as atypical of this author’s work, and I suspect it’s a slip rather than a true reflection of his own ideas. Then too, protagonist Dunne is portrayed as a hawk with regressive attitudes, and so the value he places on his wife’s virginity when he married her may have been a deliberate choice in developing this flawed character. I surely hope so.

The second female character is the seductress that lures Dunne into a “honeypot trap,” his sole but egregious infidelity that makes his overseas behavior all the more contemptible and costs him his family. Whereas this is a classic element of a great many spy stories, both old and new, it would have been more acceptable if Ignatius had included some other female roles that were more nuanced and that fell into neither category.

It is perhaps a measure of the author’s ability to write tense, believable tales of espionage that I had to have this major flaw pointed out to me. Because of his track record, I give this story 3.5 stars and round up. I will be interested to see what he writes next time.

If you read this one, I recommend doing so critically.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ignatius scores again! He tells a story of an ex-CIA officer who has been sentenced to prison for a year after being convicted of spying on an American journalist. He was set up ... we know that at the beginning, but we don't know exactly why. And that is the lead in to an exciting tale of revenge where in seeking personal justice he stumbles on a major cyberattack in the planning.

What distinguishes Ignatius from many others who write popular thrillers is his inside knowledge of how intelligence community actually works, combined with his attention to character development. Many writers can develop great plots, but Ignatius really makes it fascinating in revealing inner details of a character's life.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no denying that David Ignatius can tell a story while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. He demonstrates this talent, which he possesses by the barrel, in THE PALADIN. This is one of those rare novels that you will want to read twice --- the first time for the enjoyment, and the second time to take note of how Ignatius does what he does so well.

We meet Michael Dunne just as he is reaching the nadir of the abyss of his life. He is getting dressed down by a judge --- you can almost see the prim little lips ever-so-professionally pursed --- for a laundry list of crimes against the United States that he has committed during the course of his assignment as a CIA agent. All that Dunne really has to do in order to escape this withering onslaught is to express contrition and remorse. When he fails to do so, hilarity does not ensue and he is sent to prison. Ignatius does not tell the story in a linear fashion (though he ever-so-thoughtfully begins each chapter with a notation indicating the place and time of what follows).

What we learn in intriguing fits and starts is that Dunne, a rock star in the CIA’s technical intelligence operations, had been tasked with an operation on foreign soil that was in a gray area of legality. He was assured of the righteousness of his assignment by his deputy director of operations and told that he would be covered if his actions were subsequently questioned. When things went pie-shaped in stages with the mission, Dunne suddenly found himself being hung out to dry, with his personal and professional life blown up.

In the story’s present, Dunne has just been released from prison and is putting the shards of his life back together. Waiting for him is a letter from someone who calls himself “The Paladin,” who promises to give him information about who was responsible for what happened to him, which just might provide him with an opportunity to gain a measure of revenge. The path to sorting things out involves a bit of world-beating, from Pittsburgh and Europe to Asia and New York, along with some hobnobbing with the rich, famous and powerful. It is eye-opening, to say the least, and Ignatius’ powers of description put readers in the room and over-the-shoulder of the participants. All of this leads to a countdown on a Monday morning where either chaos or revenge will occur, and where both may well be delivered in a heart-stopping finale.

There is plenty of suspense in THE PALADIN. Ignatius achieves this with a minimum of explosions and karate, choosing instead to keep the plot clock ticking quietly, though it is still heard throughout the book. It is a marvelous accomplishment that overshadows the occasional, but by no means pervasive, problem with pacing that rears its head in places during the narrative. Then there is Dunne, an extremely interesting and tragically flawed protagonist. The conclusion certainly leaves the door open for a sequel, and perhaps more, should Ignatius see fit to do so. Longtime readers of his will hope that he does.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing from Ignatius, who has written some cracker reads in the past. First, the good: ultimately an enjoyable but extremely shallow book, it's not a bad time-passer. But it could be and should have been so much better. The dialogue in this was woeful. I mean, bad. The main character was a shallow sketch of a 'bro' (probably accounts for his lack of conversation skills). So much of this was unbelievable and kind of ridiculous. The marriage, the initial operation ("Hi, I'm from Microsoft, can I join your gang?" "Sure! Come right in!"), the whole male fantasy aspect of things. Ugh. But set all the stupid silliness aside and it's better than baking bread again during the quarantine.

[Alyssa.bernsgmail.com · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so difficult to read. Every character was a stereotype, every non-white male was introduced by race, and the few female characters were introduced with descriptions of their bodies... cringeworthy. The main character, who was unfairly treated by the CIA, is impossible to root for because he wants to blame everyone else for his personal problems.
If you can get past the writing, the hacking and fake news story itself is interesting, if somewhat shallow; I couldn't get past the writing.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun spy story. Decent concept, some good action, some tense moments. But I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Phantom Orbit though. This felt alittle childish by comparison, not a lot, just not as fleshed out. The hacking / tech story was a little shallow. And the ending was a little abrupt. But I did have fun, and I'll read another Ignatius sometime.

[Tom Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointing Outing.

While I am impressed by Ignatius’ expertise, I think he is out of his element here. Some of his scenes exploring the outer reaches of today’s video technology were educational and quite scary, but the overall plot dragged a little.

I didn’t find myself engaged with his protagonist and couldn’t share his commitment to his cause, either personal or professional.

I wanted to like the book and bought it as soon as I could, but I was disappointed overall. The narration by George Guidall was excellent as always but he didn’t have enough to work with. I would recommend Ignatius’ previous work over Paladin.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book and it led me to ponder do I actually like thrillers. Looking back on various reviews I have written I always seem to be disappointed by the dumb characters, doing unlikely stuff which saves the world. And yet time and again I find myself drawn to their pulpy embrace.

Here a CIA operative gets blown seeking to penetrate a group of hackers. To be fair this book does at least have an interesting premise and the tech stuff is well researched, on the flip side the hero is even more annoying than in most of these books.

So I guess this is a decent enough thriller, given the limitations of the genre.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The antihero has been a fixture in literature since Homer, although the term was first used in France only in the eighteenth century. In our time, the antihero has become a familiar figure through the writing of Dostoevsky, Kafka, Sartre, Camus, Kerouac, and Mailer and has entered popular culture through comic books, film, and television. (Think The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones.) But the work of David Ignatius had led me to expect a more sympathetic protagonist than I encountered in his latest, a revenge fantasy titled The Paladin.

The protagonist is not likable

Michael Dunne is not likable. Although he is a brilliant computer programmer and an accomplished field officer for the CIA, I just can’t relate to him. He’s impulsive, quick to anger (“his Scotch-Irish temper”), self-destructive, and so passionately dedicated to wreaking revenge on his enemies that he ignores all the well-considered, contrary advice from friends and foes alike. And of course he gets himself into a great deal of trouble when he does so.

Michael Dunne gets himself into a lot of trouble

The Paladin opens when Dunne is on trial in federal court for having “done what he thought was right under the circumstances, under orders.” We will later learn that he had been strenuously advised not to follow those orders. And his attorney counsels him to express contrition, which should lead to some time in community service but no incarceration. Ignoring that advice, too, he strikes out at his bosses in court. The judge then sentences him to a year a federal prison.

The Paladin is a revenge fantasy

Now, in 2018, after his release from the Federal Correctional Institute at Petersburg, Virginia, Dunne heads to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He immediately sets out on an elaborate scheme to take revenge on his boss at the CIA and the others he believes have ruined his life. Naturally, since this is fiction and we’re expected to sympathize with Dunne, he will have his way in the end. However, given the constellation of powerful forces arrayed against him and his own meager resources, that resolution seems strained.

How could one man overcome all the forces arrayed against him?

Here is what Michael Dunne is up against:

** A young American anarchist hacker named Jason Howe now poses as a journalist at the helm of a website called Fallen Empire that has racked up an extensive record of publishing top-secret government documents. The CIA cannot move against him because he is protected by the First Amendment. (Sound familiar?)
** An equally brilliant Italian hacker, Lorenzo Ricci, runs a hacker group called the Quark Team which has developed technology to produce deepfake video that can fool any but the most intensive study. (“These people are scary good . . . Like the Russians, but better.”) And the Quark Team uses deepfakes to disrupt the political process and economic affairs to enrich themselves and their backers.
** Behind this assemblage of criminals is a beautiful woman—a Swiss billionaire who owns a huge private bank and a 300-foot yacht.
** The Deputy Director of Operations (Dunne’s boss) and others at the CIA are in cahoots with the criminal cabal based in Italy.

Ignatius’ early novels all hewed much closer to reality than this exercise in revenge fantasy. I found the book disappointing even though it’s well written and tightly plotted.

A telling and timely quote from Kierkegaard

To me, the most powerful element in The Paladin is a quotation Ignatius cites at the outset from Søren Kierkegaard: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” I can hardly think of any sentiment more apt in this trying time in the history of the United States. Unfortunately, if Ignatius intended for this sentiment to be the central theme of the novel, he failed.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's another case of "Where are the half star ratings when you need them?". I've been wavering back and forth over how to rate this book, both while I was reading it and after I'd finished. Definitely not a fan of the cast of characters in this one - a bunch of walking, talking stereotypes, a (presumably deliberately?) deeply unlikable protagonist who in the end only has himself to blame for his poor choices (though he does go through some decent character development over the course of the story and grows on one... a tiny little bit), and a handful of rather terribly written female characters (chiefly the good old "virgin" and "whore" archetypes), though those have never been Ignatius's strong suit anyway. That said, I don't necessarily have to like the protagonist to enjoy a novel, and this one turned out to be more gripping and complex than it first seemed. Not among the author's better works, but entertaining nonetheless. 3.5/5

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Dunnne spends a year in jail after an off-the-books mission goes bad and the CIA shafts him.
He vows revenge.

This is an explosive, propulsive spt thriller. Plenty of action, detailed tradecraft and attention to the human condition.
Great read!

This was an ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review

[Sandi Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleepless

This book will give you a sleepless night because you will be anxious to turn the page to find out what happens next.
Scary to believe that technology may be our downfall as a nation.
Read this book and ponder the ramifications of technology invading our lives.

[Joemodz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Three of David Ignatius’s last four book were average or barely average, however, his last one, The Paladin, was a disaster. Here’s why. 1) Ignatius describes CIA operations officer Michael Dunne, one way, but his actions constantly speak differently. 2) Dunne willingly and knowingly takes on an illegal operation, and when caught, cries the victim. 3) Dunne is also “described” as a good husband but he’s not. 4) Dunne’s wife, for that matter, is a flat, two-dimensional character with no depth, and she only leads the list of poorly drawn and undeveloped characters. 5) One can often deduce a writer’s politics from the story, but to overtly shove politics—whether I agree with them or not—down my throat is just poor writing.

The story opens with Dunne (a man who we were told can slow his heartbeat and completely control his body in tense situation) rippling with anger at his sentencing hearing, and then muttering under his breath to the judge. He is found guilty and sentenced to a year in prison. We then go back to what landed him there. Dunne is charged with infiltrating an Italian news organization for the CIA that is acting like a front for an enemy intelligence service. Headed by an American journalist, the organization runs a cyber operation unlike anything the CIA has seen before. They allegedly steal secrets from everywhere and anyone and exploit them in ways the CIA can neither understand nor stop.

Dunne knows it’s illegal to run a covert op on an American citizen or journalist, but he is not too bright (even though we are told differently), so he agrees to do it. He speaks with an agency friend, another flat character, who advises him not to do it. Dunne foolishly agrees to infiltrate the organization, but he is so arrogant and heavy handed that he is easily caught. He is not good at his job.

The first thing he does, while in Switzerland on a secret mission for the CIA, is meet a woman in a bar, trace and track her, and drop his pants for her seconds before a photographer photographs his indiscretion. Oh, and Dunne is “happily” married to a virgin from Brazil. Seriously—Ignatius makes a point of telling the reader multiple times that she was a seductive virgin until she met Dunne. This horribly drawn Brazilian former virgin is now pregnant with Dunne’s second child, and she is either a quiet wife, whispering her love and devotion to Dunne (prior to his cheating), or a despondent, wailing banshee following the news of his infidelity. She is described two ways: the sexy virgin or the hysterical, wronged woman.

Now a year later, fresh out of jail, Dunne sets out to hunt down and take vengeance on the people who destroyed his life. Dunne/Ignatius is so like his hero in real life that upon release from jail, the warden says, “I’m sorry.” At least he didn’t say, “a big man with tears in his eyes came up to me and said, 'Sir, I'm sorry.'”

Every character is so superficial and stereotypical: Dunne is set up as the all American best soldier turned CIA agent and the world turns on him (he’s always the victim); Dunne's sexy former virginal wife is either one of two people depending on whether it's pre-cheat or post-cheat; the CIA head, who gives the assignment, is unimaginatively described as the evil boss--no spoiler, for that is abundantly clear, but Dunne can’t see it; the techies Dunne is assigned to go on the mission with are so superficial it's laughable--even their room, while on a mission, is described as a techie’s college dorm with posters on the wall and Radiohead playing.

Dunne is described as an ice man when faced with danger, but he is constantly unable to control his emotions and all he does is whine about being a victim. Even his lawyer has to tell him to get a grip.

Dunne is always exercising so he can be enchanting to the women. Every woman in the novel looks at him and gives him an eye as if asking if they can be the next one to go to bed with him. After being the “victim” and getting “set up” in Switzerland, he gives women a look that says, sorry honey, not this time. I can’t. What a man!

Dunne wants to make a donation to a Pittsburgh area library where his mother was head librarian, primarily because he wants to look good and make a big show of donating money himself. However, he's put off when the head librarian (we are distinctly told she is a black woman!) tells him that they have a 501 c (3) organization that he can donate to-- The Friends of the Library. Dunne turns as red as his hair because, without learning anything more about them, says “The Friends were all Democrats who thought the world ended when Barack Obama left the White House.” Hum…

His best agency friend starts wearing a MAGA hat to their drinking outings, and Dunne likes this. Dunne states that he and his friend sat up all night drinking tequila shots when Trump was elected.

Oh, and then there’s the stereotypical Chinese man who knows all and controls everything in Taiwan and is at Dunne’s bidding.

Final note on this unreadable mess: I’m from Pittsburgh, and even I got sick and tired of Dunne describing Pittsburgh and his blue-collar roots.

Frederick Forsyth’s late novels displayed the same type of “mail-it-in and I'll jump dump my politics overtly on the story” sloppiness. Michael Creighton did the something similar with some of his final novels, and it's such a slovenly show of weakness. I cannot finish this nonsense. I've already wasted too many hours.

His earlier novels must have been better than le Carré, Greene, and Deighton all rolled into one to garner such high respect.


My personal review ratings are based upon the following:
1 Star, “I did not like it or couldn’t finish it”;
2 Stars, “I think it is just Ok, but I’ll never think about it again”;
3 Stars, “I think it is an entertaining, enjoyable book, but it probably won’t warrant a reread”;
4 Stars, “I really love this book, and I may read it again”;
5 Stars, “I think this book is excellent, I will read it again, and it will likely stand the test of time.”

[Abe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good time reading a David Ignatius novel.

[Vicky F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of David Ignatius, and this was a page turner but the ending was abrupt and got me asking for more on how to story ends for the protagonist. We were heavily invested in his life, yet we knew nothing of how his life turned out after the end. I felt almost like David Ignatius was done with this book, so we had to be done with this book. Otherwise, a rather realistic story of what might be heading our way with AI!!!

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book of revenge. When infiltration mission goes wrong way Michael Dunne finds himself abandoned by his agency and left high and dry. Finally after his marriage collapses and he ends up in the prison (all of it following his fiasco) Dunne decides to take revenge on the people who brought him down in a most savage way possible.

Author is a person that always does his research and it is very interesting to see spy use of high technology. Author's signature, ruthless intelligence agencies that play double, triple or quadruple deceptions and are always ready to sacrifice their most loyal agents to achieve the national goals, is present in this novel too.

Book centers on something that terrified me first time I saw it - deep-fake technology. Implications of very existence of this technology (that brought only admiration from everyone else I know) are unforeseeable and I highly doubt this type of technology can have any positive applications. For me this technology is very like giving a hand grenade to the toddler - highly, highly irresponsible.

Excellent book, highly recommended to all fans of spy thrillers.

[Dan Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended. The Paladin is a good introduction to the novels of David Ignatius. Research has always been a hallmark of David's work. This is clearly a potboiler, aimed at the commercial thriller market. However, if the plot is rather pedestrian, the research and ideas extrapolated within set the book above and beyond the usual books in the genre. Clearly based on the effects of Wikileaks, the plot of The Paladin revolves around the manipulation of social media. Yes, sometimes seeing is not believing. Michael Dunne is a CIA operations officer who is exposed during a risky, and, as it turns out, illegal, undercover mission to infiltrate the hacker group, called Fallen Empire. Dunne was set up, and took the fall, and he knows it. Upon release from prison, he sets out to find out who it was and why it happened. The Paladin is straight forward storytelling, with lots of insights into the world of espionage, including the politics of spying. An intelligent thriller, this one is worth reading.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. To think that someone in government and the private sector might be so amoral that they don’t care who they step on.

Well written and plotted story of greed and corruption at the highest levels. The protagonist seems a little thin of character and the balance of people are somewhat bland. This doesn’t detract from the story arc.

I will be looking for more from David Ignatius.

I wish to thank the Author, the Publisher, and Goodreads for my free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[David K · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of many thrillers written by this Washington Post journalist. This is very topical with the upcoming election. It deals with “Fake news “, Deep fakes, and cyber security through the eyes of a falsely accused CIA agent.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi tech and government conspiracy. What’s not to like? Well written and fast moving, but could be too heavy on Internet technology for some people’s taste. (Perfect for me).

[Eric Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too scary not to be true

This is a real eye opener to the potential to abuse digital technology. And, it is a great story that makes the reader think.