The Handler: 1 (Handler Thriller, A)

Although the story was quite good I found it very difficult to follow the characters and groups involved as I know very little about the Middle East and Russia. I was constantly flipping back to the Cast of Characters at the front of the book. I don't think I'll read the next book in the series.

I stumbled on to this book and saw Marc Greaney’s blurb, and since he is my favorite author I figured I would find out if he’s just a shill for his publisher or actually recommended a good book. Well I am sorry I doubted him.This book is fantastic. It is written in a way that gives it a ton of authenticity. Much like Jack Carr’s James Reece series, but in this case instead of tip of the spear tactical goodies, the author brings suspense and drama to the Washington bureaucracy. The book revolves around an ensemble of great characters. A wife who is on her way up at the CIA is tasked with getting her ex-husband to return to the fold, in order to bring a former asset back on line.They and the asset are hunted by multiple agencies all with their own cast of characters, but despite the many different facets, the book is tightly paced, and incredibly difficult to put down.(I was awake until 4:30 in the morning).I am very much looking forward to the authors next book and would HIGHLY recommend this one. The best way to describe it is if a LE Care’ book mated with a Mitch Rapp book. There is the cerebral spy skullduggery, while still keeping awesome throat slashing action sequences. READ THIS BOOK. .

An Iranian scientist wants to defect to the States, but will only hand himself over to one man; his former ‘handler’. Problem is, said handler has left the service, and not on good terms. The only hope of getting him back in the game rests with his estranged wife or, to put it another way, his handler. What follows is a gripping cutting edge thriller that straddles continents and leaves you short of breath with each passing chapter. Many thrillers don’t thrill you. This one does. Packed with acronyms, you know how governments and the military love their acronyms, and with a storyline that brings out the best in even the minor players, this book shows the spy game at its absolute best. Dialogue throughout is spot on and there’s action at every turn. Cinematic and frantically paced, finding a better book than this any time soon will be challenging.

元アメリカ海軍情報将校としての経歴にその後のエンタメ業界での経験が影響しているのか、冒頭から最後まで大変引き込まれます。Tom Clancy + Mark Greaney という感じでしょうか。

Fast action, and good character development on both sides of the confrontation with a couple of good twists thrown in.