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Nir Tavor Mossad #1
Operation Joktan
“It was the perfect day—until the gunfire.”
Nir Tavor is an Israeli secret service operative turned talented Mossad agent.
Nicole le Roux is a model with a hidden skill.
A terrorist attack brings them together, and then work forces them apart—until they’re unexpectedly called back into each other’s lives.
But there’s no time for romance. As violent radicals threaten chaos across the Middle East, the two must work together to stop these extremists, pooling Nicole’s knack for technology and Nir’s adeptness with on-the-ground missions. Each heart-racing step of their operation gets them closer to the truth—and closer to danger.
In this thrilling first book in a new series, authors Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn draw on true events as well as tactical insights Amir learned from his time in the Israeli Defense Forces. For believers in God’s life-changing promises, Operation Joktan is a suspense-filled page-turner that illuminates the blessing Israel is to the world.
Nir Tavor is an Israeli secret service operative turned talented Mossad agent.
Nicole le Roux is a model with a hidden skill.
A terrorist attack brings them together, and then work forces them apart—until they’re unexpectedly called back into each other’s lives.
But there’s no time for romance. As violent radicals threaten chaos across the Middle East, the two must work together to stop these extremists, pooling Nicole’s knack for technology and Nir’s adeptness with on-the-ground missions. Each heart-racing step of their operation gets them closer to the truth—and closer to danger.
In this thrilling first book in a new series, authors Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn draw on true events as well as tactical insights Amir learned from his time in the Israeli Defense Forces. For believers in God’s life-changing promises, Operation Joktan is a suspense-filled page-turner that illuminates the blessing Israel is to the world.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2021
500 people are currently reading
3486 people want to read
About the author
Amir Tsarfati
78 books359 followersAmir Tsarfati was born in Israel and has lived there most of his life. Since fulfilling his mandatory service in the Israeli Defense Force, he has continued as a major in the IDF Reserve. Amir has been a tour guide in Israel for the last twenty years, and served as chief tour guide of Sar El Tours and CEO of Sar El Tours and Conferences. In 2001, he became founder and president of Behold Israel – a non-profit organization which provides worldwide real-time access to reliable sources of news and information about Israel from within the powerful context of Bible history and prophecy.
Amir is married to Miriam, and together they have four children. His home overlooks the valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) which is a constant reminder of the call that the Lord has placed on him to teach from the Bible what God’s plans are for the end of times.
Amir is married to Miriam, and together they have four children. His home overlooks the valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) which is a constant reminder of the call that the Lord has placed on him to teach from the Bible what God’s plans are for the end of times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
December 21, 2021
While certainly not the great American novel...or even the great Israeli novel...Operation Joktan is a blast to read, while being informative and thought-provoking along the way. The pages absolutely fly by, and if you're a fan of the fast-paced, action-biased, technical fiction writing of a Clancy or perhaps a Preston (some have said Lee Child, though I can't testify to that), you'll enjoy this. If you've read or listened to Tsarfati's non-fiction books, the sense of humor will be very familiar!
It's Tsarfati's first foray into fiction, as far as I'm aware, and, with no disrespect to Amir or his co-author Steve Yohn, there are telltale signs of this throughout (the occasional overly witty action movie dialogue or a few too many "thinking back over how I got to this point" moments), but I didn't find that this detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
Taking it for what it is - essentially a spy novel -it's totally enjoyable. What was more surprising to me was how informative it was. Each chapter and plot twist felt ripped from the headlines in the Middle East, every character and group, whether good or bad, very likely all too close to reality. For their American audience, at any rate, Tsarfati and Yohn attempt to share an Israeli perspective on the complicated geopolitics of this rather central "corner" of the globe. In modern (and realistic) fashion, the good guys aren't fully good and the bad guys are humanized rather than painted as one-dimensional monsters. If it makes you want to follow Middle Eastern politics more closely...that's probably the point.
Last but certainly not least, the gospel message is shared clearly and without inhibition, which is refreshing and inspiring. The anti-Israel crowd isn't going to like this book, but that will come as no surprise to the authors.
It's Tsarfati's first foray into fiction, as far as I'm aware, and, with no disrespect to Amir or his co-author Steve Yohn, there are telltale signs of this throughout (the occasional overly witty action movie dialogue or a few too many "thinking back over how I got to this point" moments), but I didn't find that this detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
Taking it for what it is - essentially a spy novel -it's totally enjoyable. What was more surprising to me was how informative it was. Each chapter and plot twist felt ripped from the headlines in the Middle East, every character and group, whether good or bad, very likely all too close to reality. For their American audience, at any rate, Tsarfati and Yohn attempt to share an Israeli perspective on the complicated geopolitics of this rather central "corner" of the globe. In modern (and realistic) fashion, the good guys aren't fully good and the bad guys are humanized rather than painted as one-dimensional monsters. If it makes you want to follow Middle Eastern politics more closely...that's probably the point.
Last but certainly not least, the gospel message is shared clearly and without inhibition, which is refreshing and inspiring. The anti-Israel crowd isn't going to like this book, but that will come as no surprise to the authors.
October 25, 2021
Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn have penned an explosive, thrill-rush read.
It's as edgy as Lee Child but still Christian fiction and packs just as large a literary punch.
If you like Tom Clancy, and Lee Child, make sure to read this novel.
I received this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to post nor write a review.
It's as edgy as Lee Child but still Christian fiction and packs just as large a literary punch.
If you like Tom Clancy, and Lee Child, make sure to read this novel.
I received this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to post nor write a review.
July 20, 2022
I really like this book! It's an international thriller that could really happen. I'm a fan of the author Amir Tsarfati and I think his first fiction book is a real winner! I love the character of Nir, the Mossad agent who is not only handsome, but a brave, intelligent man with a really good heart. Then, there is Nicole, a Gentile, who becomes a part of the Jewish group in a very interesting way. Their stories and the other characters in the book are all well-developed. There is also a nice smattering of humor in between the characters too, and, of course, a touch of romance. The Arab versus Israel dilemma is shown in the action of the novel. There is also a Christian element that develops a bit over half-way in the book - that I really liked. I read this book in just a couple days because I had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to reading more about Nir and Nicole in future books by Tsarfati and Yohn. I highly recommend this book!!
January 24, 2022
I don't normally read in this genre, but I'm a fan of Amir's teachings so I gave it a try. Wow! I am so thankful I did. In the world of thrillers, this one has all the goods. This book is filled with characters that are original and engaging set in a world so vividly described the reader knows the author's in- depth knowledge of his subject matter is real ... and probably gained the hard way. This book wasn't written by second-hand observation, but by someone with first-hand knowledge of his subject. And in a violent world, this book does a great job of not taking it over the top, but instead giving the reader just enough so that understand the stakes and the sacrifices. Not all books I read go in the "didn't want to put it down" category, but this one did. I'm ready to see what these two do next.
July 25, 2023
audio the plot showed so much promise. However, this product was poorly produced by either bad writing style, poor editing, or both. The great rating is probably from readers more familiar with this subject matter. The constant time stamp was annoying.
January 20, 2022
I enjoyed this book. It held my interest from start-to-finish; it was engrossing. It has "info dumps" that are done in such a way that do not take away from the pacing or the story. I thought it was well-written. The character development was good; the action scenes were good; the plot was quite plausible and something that lends serious consideration. The story as a whole was a lot of fun. I also liked that the authors did not "cheapen" the ending .
The book is written from a "non-American perspective," which made it especially interesting to me. The U.S. of A. was not the center of attention or the world (as tends to be the case in books written by American authors); Israel is the center of this story. Actually, a group of Mossad agents, but essentially the same thing. I felt the author did a fine job expressing "the Israeli point-of-view" about the world to the reader as well as talking about Israeli points of interest (which may or may not necessarily coincide with American or European interests). Take the Abraham Accords - an important, historic agreement between Israel, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain that was signed in 2020 and was barely mentioned in the U.S. news media. I never knew that happened, and yet its importance is discussed in the book. To be honest, I wish I had kept notes on different events that were talked about in the book that have taken place in the (relatively) recent past to learn more about the historicity of what was discussed. It was a bit of an eye-opening book in terms of how blind Americans can be to world news and how selective the U.S. national news media can be in what is presented to the American public.
I thought the relationships described throughout the book were believable, were normal and natural. I think these relationships did help propel the book along. I liked that the heroes were still human; even the villains were presented as more than cardboard cutouts merely to be killed. The authors introduced the two main characters right away in the book and did so in a way that grabs the reader's attention and holds it on them.
It is more of an espionage novel, I guess, than an "action novel," but it still has plenty of action in it. There is a lot of discussions about terrorist tactics and possible targets, but I never felt like these discussions took away from the story or its flow. It held my attention throughout the entire book.
I would say it was a fast read for me; I read it over my breaks at work, otherwise I would have finished it quite a bit sooner. In any case, I am glad that my daughter bought it for me as as gift because she thought I might enjoy reading it, and I am glad that I did, indeed, read it. I look forward to reading more books by the authors, be it a second book with these characters or the authors' non-fiction books.
The book is written from a "non-American perspective," which made it especially interesting to me. The U.S. of A. was not the center of attention or the world (as tends to be the case in books written by American authors); Israel is the center of this story. Actually, a group of Mossad agents, but essentially the same thing. I felt the author did a fine job expressing "the Israeli point-of-view" about the world to the reader as well as talking about Israeli points of interest (which may or may not necessarily coincide with American or European interests). Take the Abraham Accords - an important, historic agreement between Israel, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain that was signed in 2020 and was barely mentioned in the U.S. news media. I never knew that happened, and yet its importance is discussed in the book. To be honest, I wish I had kept notes on different events that were talked about in the book that have taken place in the (relatively) recent past to learn more about the historicity of what was discussed. It was a bit of an eye-opening book in terms of how blind Americans can be to world news and how selective the U.S. national news media can be in what is presented to the American public.
I thought the relationships described throughout the book were believable, were normal and natural. I think these relationships did help propel the book along. I liked that the heroes were still human; even the villains were presented as more than cardboard cutouts merely to be killed. The authors introduced the two main characters right away in the book and did so in a way that grabs the reader's attention and holds it on them.
It is more of an espionage novel, I guess, than an "action novel," but it still has plenty of action in it. There is a lot of discussions about terrorist tactics and possible targets, but I never felt like these discussions took away from the story or its flow. It held my attention throughout the entire book.
I would say it was a fast read for me; I read it over my breaks at work, otherwise I would have finished it quite a bit sooner. In any case, I am glad that my daughter bought it for me as as gift because she thought I might enjoy reading it, and I am glad that I did, indeed, read it. I look forward to reading more books by the authors, be it a second book with these characters or the authors' non-fiction books.
April 7, 2022
Won this book. It had a good concept. There were action-packed spurts. Enough to keep you engaged. And while it takes place in the Middle East, the names would be different than ours but it got a little distracting trying to keep up with all of the moving parts when it came to characters. All in all, it had a good plotline. There could have been some more character development and I found certain sections to be preachy (not that there is no place for preachy dialogue) It kinda turned me off and made it hard to read the ending.
March 27, 2022
I'm a fan of Amir and had to purchase his first fiction book. I like espionage thrillers and this one didn't disappoint. The characters were strong and the author's knowledge of the middle east and tactical missions are evident. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next one.
I loved the Christian element of the story.
I loved the Christian element of the story.
March 28, 2023
I got halfway through but the editing for the dialogue was so bad I had to stop. I love reading translated books but they missed the mark with this one which is too bad because the premise is incredibly interesting. Alas. I will have to try a different translated novel for 2022.
October 6, 2024
Operation Joktan was such a surprise for me. It was like reading Jack Carr or Lee Child, but with Christian faith. For me, the book started a little slow, but the ending packs a huge punch. I loved it! I will be continuing the series! 5/5 stars.
July 26, 2022
This is a well-paced action novel that follows Nir Tavor and his progression in the Mossad as well as his growing relationship with Nicole. There is enough tension to pull you in, but not so much to make you lose sleep at night. There were also a lot of different characters, but not so many that I lost track of who was who. I loved the character development, and especially enjoyed the use of languages that added an element of depth as it highlighted the diversity of the characters and their cultures and ideologies.
As a Christian, finding a fiction novel set in modern times, dealing with very real to life scenarios, that is still clean and compelling in its message is a pleasant surprise.
I am delighted to add this book to my collection and look forward to the next Nir Tavor adventure!
As a Christian, finding a fiction novel set in modern times, dealing with very real to life scenarios, that is still clean and compelling in its message is a pleasant surprise.
I am delighted to add this book to my collection and look forward to the next Nir Tavor adventure!
June 21, 2024
⭐️4 Stars
After my friend’s younger brother insisted I read this book, I finally finished it after holding his copy hostage for about four months. All I can say is that It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but it definitely was mine and I was not disappointed!
The writing could have been a bit better (reason why I dropped it by 1 star) but it wasn’t the worst writing I have ever read.
It had enough action and dialogue to keep me interested till the end. Can’t wait to read Tsarfati’s next book!
Spoiler dialogues below…..
—————————-
It was her turn to laugh. “….One day I watched his preacher on YouTube. His message title was something like ‘Reforming the God of the Old Testament’ or ‘A New Look at the God of the Old Testament’….he said ….God of the Old Testament being the angry God and the God of the New Testament being the loving God is a bunch of crap……when you look at the prophets….there’s a lot of judgment there because the people were being nasty and sinful. Like a parent with a kid, there needs to be discipline.
“But here’s the other thing he said you find, especially with those same prophets. When there was a promise of major discipline there was usually a promise of forgiveness and reconciliation and restoration as well. Again just like with a kid. You discipline them, but you never stop loving them.”
NEVER have I ever read a book where a question (God is loving but why does he allow bad things to happen?) was answered with truth and not with an “idea” of why God allows these things to happen.
After my friend’s younger brother insisted I read this book, I finally finished it after holding his copy hostage for about four months. All I can say is that It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but it definitely was mine and I was not disappointed!
The writing could have been a bit better (reason why I dropped it by 1 star) but it wasn’t the worst writing I have ever read.
It had enough action and dialogue to keep me interested till the end. Can’t wait to read Tsarfati’s next book!
Spoiler dialogues below…..
—————————-
It was her turn to laugh. “….One day I watched his preacher on YouTube. His message title was something like ‘Reforming the God of the Old Testament’ or ‘A New Look at the God of the Old Testament’….he said ….God of the Old Testament being the angry God and the God of the New Testament being the loving God is a bunch of crap……when you look at the prophets….there’s a lot of judgment there because the people were being nasty and sinful. Like a parent with a kid, there needs to be discipline.
“But here’s the other thing he said you find, especially with those same prophets. When there was a promise of major discipline there was usually a promise of forgiveness and reconciliation and restoration as well. Again just like with a kid. You discipline them, but you never stop loving them.”
NEVER have I ever read a book where a question (God is loving but why does he allow bad things to happen?) was answered with truth and not with an “idea” of why God allows these things to happen.
May 23, 2024
Non Stop Tension
Excellent story with many ups and downs. I particularly enjoyed how the characters developed. Something about Amir’s real life experience makes this story so real. I can’t wait for the next book!
Excellent story with many ups and downs. I particularly enjoyed how the characters developed. Something about Amir’s real life experience makes this story so real. I can’t wait for the next book!
June 18, 2023
Too much Christian religion conversation written into the book.
May 9, 2025
A roller coaster ride of a story, it's a slow build up until it takes off. Plenty of humor is dotted through out, but the most amazing thing about this book is that it is very informative too.
August 11, 2025
Just what I needed. Almost like watching a movie. Israelis, Mossad, plus the Gentile Christian version of Lisbeth Salander!
I hope the loose ends (the Canadian kid and the Japanese fighter) will be dealt with in volume 2!
Made me curious about the Burj Khalifa building.
Hmmmm ...
I hope the loose ends (the Canadian kid and the Japanese fighter) will be dealt with in volume 2!
Made me curious about the Burj Khalifa building.
Hmmmm ...
Read
April 28, 2023A few hits; most misses. Entertaining enough, sure. The thrills are there. But missed opportunities to be really good. It has all the elements but is no Joel C. Rosenberg.
The knowledge of weapons is apparent. But the romance seems forced and reduces the overall credibility. Not great, when you need buy-in for a realistic Middle East thriller. Also, the preaching from the one character becomes too much on the nose – that should be more subtle in this genre of fiction, in my opinion. And get used to one-sided politics.
The knowledge of weapons is apparent. But the romance seems forced and reduces the overall credibility. Not great, when you need buy-in for a realistic Middle East thriller. Also, the preaching from the one character becomes too much on the nose – that should be more subtle in this genre of fiction, in my opinion. And get used to one-sided politics.
July 18, 2022
Mr Tsarfati is an outstanding writer of Biblical expose and is well worth reading in that genre. This book, however, is not Biblical expose and doesn't fit comfortably into the category of a novel. The book lacks the raciness of a suspense novel, is too superficial to qualify as a romance novel and is too far removed from Mossad reality to be a danger to the organisation. Unfortunately, this leaves it in an indefinable void, where a number of threads are left hanging. For example, what did happen to Nicole in Iran? Clearly, it was traumatic enough to send her into PTSD and to precipitate a life change, so surely it's important enough to warrant some explanatory wordspace in the book.
Too often Mr Tsarfati falls into the same 'sin' as his character Lahav Tabib and digresses into drawn out, unnecessary descriptions such as the one about the Burj Khalifa. His research and dissertation on that building is admirable but unnecessary and, in addition to anything else, serves to make his error on South African geography all the more glaring. While he is correct in saying that the Israeli Embassy is in the country's capital, he is glaringly wrong in claiming that the capital is Johannesburg. It is, in fact, Pretoria - little further to the North of Johannesburg.
One of the basic requirements of a Christian novel is that the Christian message should be woven into the everyday life of the character concerned and not dished out in dollops that leave readers wondering how they got there.
As I said at the start of this review, Mr Tsarfati, your Biblical expose and your understanding of the prophetic books of both the Old and the New Testament are outstanding. Perhaps you should stick to the genre you excel in and remain an incredible blessing to your readers.
Too often Mr Tsarfati falls into the same 'sin' as his character Lahav Tabib and digresses into drawn out, unnecessary descriptions such as the one about the Burj Khalifa. His research and dissertation on that building is admirable but unnecessary and, in addition to anything else, serves to make his error on South African geography all the more glaring. While he is correct in saying that the Israeli Embassy is in the country's capital, he is glaringly wrong in claiming that the capital is Johannesburg. It is, in fact, Pretoria - little further to the North of Johannesburg.
One of the basic requirements of a Christian novel is that the Christian message should be woven into the everyday life of the character concerned and not dished out in dollops that leave readers wondering how they got there.
As I said at the start of this review, Mr Tsarfati, your Biblical expose and your understanding of the prophetic books of both the Old and the New Testament are outstanding. Perhaps you should stick to the genre you excel in and remain an incredible blessing to your readers.
March 8, 2023
Fiction.... Yes! Reality.... Yes! Fly by the seat of your pants.... Yes! Adrenaline Rush...... You Better Believe It!
Operation Joktan will shake you to your core with Biblical Truth and the Pure Terror of the Middle East. Amir & Steve, give the "Outsider" a view you will never see on TV.
You become a member of the Mossad as a teammate of Nir Tavor and Nicole le Roux. You are there standing to fight for the rights of the innocent and God's people. You encounter militias with full intent of killing anyone who doesn't honor Allah in the way THEY believe!
You experience people you might feel like you know and those you don't want to know. You witness pain, suffering, death, love, purpose, and divine calling on Believers! You experience the question of Jewish Mosaic Law vs Jesus.
This book is labeled as a Thriller, but it is NOT your typical definition of a Thriller that leaves you traumatized and wanting to hide under your covers in fear. This is a Thriller that is honest reality and drives you to seek God and Jesus for yourself! However, had I not already been a firm Believer in Jesus Christ prior to reading this book, I may in fact be the traumatized, hiding under the covers, in complete fear, individual.
If I could, I would easily give this book a 10/5 star rating! I highly recommend this book, learning more about the authors, and "Behold Israel."
Can hardly wait to jump into "By Way Of Deception," the second book in the series!
Operation Joktan will shake you to your core with Biblical Truth and the Pure Terror of the Middle East. Amir & Steve, give the "Outsider" a view you will never see on TV.
You become a member of the Mossad as a teammate of Nir Tavor and Nicole le Roux. You are there standing to fight for the rights of the innocent and God's people. You encounter militias with full intent of killing anyone who doesn't honor Allah in the way THEY believe!
You experience people you might feel like you know and those you don't want to know. You witness pain, suffering, death, love, purpose, and divine calling on Believers! You experience the question of Jewish Mosaic Law vs Jesus.
This book is labeled as a Thriller, but it is NOT your typical definition of a Thriller that leaves you traumatized and wanting to hide under your covers in fear. This is a Thriller that is honest reality and drives you to seek God and Jesus for yourself! However, had I not already been a firm Believer in Jesus Christ prior to reading this book, I may in fact be the traumatized, hiding under the covers, in complete fear, individual.
If I could, I would easily give this book a 10/5 star rating! I highly recommend this book, learning more about the authors, and "Behold Israel."
Can hardly wait to jump into "By Way Of Deception," the second book in the series!
January 22, 2023
I read this in 2022 but can’t remember the exact dates.
I really enjoying listening to Amir Tsarfati, he is very knowledgeable with Biblical scripture, he was a Major in the IDF, and the last deputy Governor of Jericho when it was in Israel. When I discovered that Amir had co-written a spy thriller with co-author Steve Yohn, I knew I had to pick it up.
I really enjoyed this thriller, obviously it was an origin story where they had to introduce characters so there a a few parts where you have to walk through explanations of what’s going on but then once we’re established the story starts to take off, I really enjoy the characters and the chemistry and the best I can see it from this first novel is that it seems like we have an opener for a series similar to what we have expected with other espionage tales, I put this book somewhere between serious James Bond and a tad in the hint of Mission Impossible due to some light humor amongst the team mates, but with Israel’s Massad instead of England’s MI6 and the group of the fictional US secret cell IMF. All in all I was happy with the story and have already purchased the sequel to this book “By Way of Deception”.
If your a Christian like me you will also enjoy the fact that Tsarfati and Yohn have cleverly written the novel without vulgar language and have added Biblical references.
I really enjoying listening to Amir Tsarfati, he is very knowledgeable with Biblical scripture, he was a Major in the IDF, and the last deputy Governor of Jericho when it was in Israel. When I discovered that Amir had co-written a spy thriller with co-author Steve Yohn, I knew I had to pick it up.
I really enjoyed this thriller, obviously it was an origin story where they had to introduce characters so there a a few parts where you have to walk through explanations of what’s going on but then once we’re established the story starts to take off, I really enjoy the characters and the chemistry and the best I can see it from this first novel is that it seems like we have an opener for a series similar to what we have expected with other espionage tales, I put this book somewhere between serious James Bond and a tad in the hint of Mission Impossible due to some light humor amongst the team mates, but with Israel’s Massad instead of England’s MI6 and the group of the fictional US secret cell IMF. All in all I was happy with the story and have already purchased the sequel to this book “By Way of Deception”.
If your a Christian like me you will also enjoy the fact that Tsarfati and Yohn have cleverly written the novel without vulgar language and have added Biblical references.
February 22, 2022
As far as military thrillers go, Operation Joktan is enjoyable, well-researched, and on-point. As far as "Christian" novels go, my honest opinion is that it strays to the annoying side of preachy. As a Christian myself, I applaud anyone who attempts a fictional story that includes Christian values. The trouble is, it too often feels forced, melodramatic, corny, or all-of-the-above. And this tale is no exception. The message is good, it's just not presented as well as I think it should be.
The characters are compelling (especially Nicole). That said, the team that goes after the terrorists felt far too "chummy" for the situation. It detracted from the tension, even if it was fun and served to lighten the mood. Can't have both, though, and if I had to choose, I would not remove the goofing around.
The action scenes were well done, if not a bit rushed.
Overall, a solid, entertaining story that reads fast and does not overstay its welcome.
The characters are compelling (especially Nicole). That said, the team that goes after the terrorists felt far too "chummy" for the situation. It detracted from the tension, even if it was fun and served to lighten the mood. Can't have both, though, and if I had to choose, I would not remove the goofing around.
The action scenes were well done, if not a bit rushed.
Overall, a solid, entertaining story that reads fast and does not overstay its welcome.
October 26, 2022
This book, Operation Joktan, is a really good book. Operation Joktan is a very entertaining book, with espionage, three different perspectives, there are multiple twists in the story, and a small love story. Operation Joktan has a lot of action and how the main character, Nir Tavor, deals with the problems that he faces. Nir Tavor met a South African Model on one mission. After that first meeting, they went on a few dates but never saw each other after that. One day, Nir and this model were put on the same mission within the Mossad. This was an assassination mission, that neither of them new the other was on this mission. It was a big surprise when they learned that the other was on the mission. This book has the perspectives of Nir, the Model and the person that they are assassinating. After the man was assassinated, it seemed the book was over when another twist hit. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to be on the edge of their seat when they read a story.
December 4, 2022
This book was a really good read. It started with a bang, the tension grew as we followed the characters along. The end was really tense and I appreciated it. Steve and Amir wrote a very tight and well written first book.
I found Nir a little frustrating and annoying, but he was vulnerable and relatable. As a main character he was flawed and I appreciated that. Nicole was a character that despite the fact that she was White South African and a
model, she was even more relatable and the one I drew closer too. The minor characters were funny, helpful and moved the plot along. My only gripe with characters was that there were so many and I had trouble distinguishing them. They weren’t very well fleshed out save for Lahav, Dafna, Liora and Yossi. I was intrigued by Dima, I hope we see more of him.
I loved the story, I thought it was plausible and I look forward to reading more of the novels from Amir and Steve. Nice work guys. Looking forward to reading By way of Deception.
I found Nir a little frustrating and annoying, but he was vulnerable and relatable. As a main character he was flawed and I appreciated that. Nicole was a character that despite the fact that she was White South African and a
model, she was even more relatable and the one I drew closer too. The minor characters were funny, helpful and moved the plot along. My only gripe with characters was that there were so many and I had trouble distinguishing them. They weren’t very well fleshed out save for Lahav, Dafna, Liora and Yossi. I was intrigued by Dima, I hope we see more of him.
I loved the story, I thought it was plausible and I look forward to reading more of the novels from Amir and Steve. Nice work guys. Looking forward to reading By way of Deception.
March 12, 2023
Very familiar with Amir’s nonfiction work, biblical teaching through his Behold Israel ministry, and insight into biblical prophecy as a native Israeli, I was curious about his venture into the realm of fiction.
I enjoyed the historical, cultural, and political layers throughout this story, and knowing Amir, I knew his personal knowledge and military experiences were baked into the background of the people and places. That was a plus and what I enjoyed most about this story.
However, the characters and writing style were a little flat for me at times and slightly over-generalized. There were also cases where a writing technique was repetitive or forced in a way that took me out of the story and into an “editing” mode. (The telling of back-stories is an example of that.)
There was potential in the characters and story, though, and I love a good spy story, so I would probably go one more tale with Nir Tavor to see how the character grows and follow where Amir expands the tale.
I enjoyed the historical, cultural, and political layers throughout this story, and knowing Amir, I knew his personal knowledge and military experiences were baked into the background of the people and places. That was a plus and what I enjoyed most about this story.
However, the characters and writing style were a little flat for me at times and slightly over-generalized. There were also cases where a writing technique was repetitive or forced in a way that took me out of the story and into an “editing” mode. (The telling of back-stories is an example of that.)
There was potential in the characters and story, though, and I love a good spy story, so I would probably go one more tale with Nir Tavor to see how the character grows and follow where Amir expands the tale.
February 13, 2022
This is a fantastic fun read that is a straight up spy/ military novel. Clean fun with a good message. It also asks some good questions about life’s meaning and where truth can be found. Admittedly, the first part of the book felt a bit scattered as the background was being laid and establishing of characters was occurring. However, once the team was finally together and on mission, the book really took off - pun intended as you will see once reading. I really enjoyed the two main protagonists and their ongoing relationship and look forward to seeing what happens to them. Tsafarti and Yohn put together a great first book and I am already waiting for the next.
December 24, 2021
I liked it, though it's not my usual genre to read. It definitely has a lot of action which is great if you like that kind of thing. The switching POV's was a bit of a drag at times for me, but it got more exciting as the book drew towards the conclusion. I really liked Nir and Nicole a lot. Nicole's role especially kept me engaged in the story when all the gun and military talk went over my head. The book touched on a lot of important issues so I'm eager to see where the series goes as it continues.
January 22, 2022
This was a new type of story for me! I didn't think I'd like this book when it began with a long character list of names I couldn't pronounce. I moved past that assuming I would figure out the people as the story unfolded. I did ok. The story takes place in the middle east and describes how the Israeli agents work to stop a terrorist attack. The story was very exciting for the second half and I had trouble putting the book down.
This was good! I'm glad I tried something new. I noticed the book ends with room for more books to follow.
This was good! I'm glad I tried something new. I noticed the book ends with room for more books to follow.
February 4, 2022
Wow, great characters, great action, excellent plot, and overall wonderful story. And I was impressed with the down to earth presentation of the gospel, especially how the story realistically portrayed a new believer. We live in a sinful and evil world, and the story didn't hold back. We don't see the flowery side of the reality new Christians face. And the author does an excellent job giving a picture of what happens in the high stakes game of international espionage in today's world. And what's great is that in the end, grace and God's providence were masterfully weaved in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
Thrilling and fast paced.
So glad i could read it without having to worry about graphic sexual scenes or vulgar language or homosexual references everyone is trying to ram down our throats.
As a 70 yr old woman all the detailed description of weapons and ammunition just went over my head. I just skipped those sections. Im sure other people appreciated that. I did learn many things about the middle east that surprised me. Interesting to think about about all of these things going on behind the scenes in the intelligence community. Good read!
So glad i could read it without having to worry about graphic sexual scenes or vulgar language or homosexual references everyone is trying to ram down our throats.
As a 70 yr old woman all the detailed description of weapons and ammunition just went over my head. I just skipped those sections. Im sure other people appreciated that. I did learn many things about the middle east that surprised me. Interesting to think about about all of these things going on behind the scenes in the intelligence community. Good read!
February 19, 2022
This novel by Amir Tsafarti is a political thriller set in the Mid-East. The characters and plot are interesting, and the events are timely as we watch Biblical prophecy unfold in the current events on the news. With Amir's experience as a Messianic Christian who writes books on Biblical prophecy, this novel feels like it could be something that is actually happening instead of just a fictional story. If you enjoy political thrillers with a Biblical world view you might enjoy Amir's debut novel. I certainly did.
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