The Ghost War - Alex Berenson - 2008

The Ghost War - Alex Berenson

The is the first book that I have read by this author. This book was a good book. No, this book was an excellent book! This was one of the best spy thrillers that I have read in a long time. It was so good that I put away "Nauti Deceptions" to read it!

I was fascinated and pulled into the story from the very first chapter. I had thought initially that it would take days to read as it not a book that I would normally read for entertainment but it was fast paced and suspenseful. I could imagine a movie on the book somewhat similar to the Bourne series based on the adventures of John Wells.

The main character is a CIA agent who had infiltrated a terrorist cell for 10 years. He was deemed a hero when he killed a terrorist in NYC. That adventure was covered in Berenson's previous book, "The Faithful Spy". Wells is known around the world as "Time Square Wells" for his heroic act. Wells is a tortured soul suffering from extreme PTDS. He lives with and is involved with Jennifer Exley, a fellow CIA agent.

The book begins with suspense as three CIA agent work to recover a North Korean scientist turned spy for the United States called the "Broker." From there it is action packed, testosterine filled and enough intrigue and suspense to keep me turning page after page. In the book, Wells deals with the grips of PTSD, combat in Afganistan and capture, torture and escape from China. In all this we get a glimpse of his growing love for Exley.

You can tell that Berenson committed a lot of time and effort into his research and the scenario he created in the book is plausible, credible and possible given today's headlines.

This book is definite major movie material. I will definitely read "The Faithful Spy" and subsequent stories based on John Well's character.

Of course you know I would have to find at least one chapter related to romance and intimacy. It wasn't until page 318 that I found it!

"Well's didn't bother to ask what she thought. Without another word, he rolled onto her, his size surprising her, as it always did. He enveloped her, his mouth on hers, wet-opened mouthed kisses. He never asked permission, she thought. He never needed to. His big hands gripped her waist, then one was unbuttoning her jeans, the other pulling them off her hips. And as quickly as that, she forgot she was tired."

That brought on a sigh or two.

That was all the romance to be found in the book and I still could not put it down.


Definitely read it!

In retrospect, I wish I had read "The Faithful Spy" first to know more about the main character, John Wells.

Enjoy,


Susan