Damascus Station
'The Best Spy Thriller of the Year' THE TIMES
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
'One of the best - and most authentic - spy thrillers in years' The Times
***THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR***
A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in Damascus to hunt for a killer
CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy.
But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.
PRAISE FOR DAMASCUS STATION:
'Simply marvellous storytelling...a stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre' - Financial Times
'The best spy novel I have ever read' - General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA
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RAVE READER REVIEWS FOR DAMASCUS STATION
'Read this book… and order Moscow X'
'An intense, unforgettable tour de force that must be read'
'WOW! What an astonishing read'
'David McCloskey knows his stuff… an impressive page-turner'
'Genuinely original'
'Excellent, gritty espionage novel'
'A refreshingly credible, engaging and exciting spy thriller'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
CIA case officer Sam Joseph, the hero of former CIA analyst McCloskey's exhilarating debut, aims to recruit Mariam Haddad, an official who works at Damascus's Syrian Palace, in Paris. At a diplomatic party, Sam rescues Mariam, who's part of a Syrian government delegation, from the unwanted attentions of another guest, and they agree to meet for a drink the next evening. Mariam becomes a CIA asset, Sam teaches her the tradecraft she needs to operate without detection under the watchful eyes of her palace superiors, and they begin an illicit love affair. Sam follows Mariam to Damascus, where the plan is to hunt down a brutal pair of brothers, palace officials who kidnapped and killed an American spy. Their mission expands to deal with a larger threat. McCloskey portrays the brutal inner functioning of the Assad regime, as well as the CIA's occasional ineptitude, while detailing such elements of spy craft as avoiding tails, maximizing dead drops, and operating safe houses. Refreshingly, as shown in the relationship between Sam and Mariam, he dares to be sentimental. Espionage fans will eagerly await his next.
