Damascus Station: Unmissable New Spy Thriller From Former CIA Officer (Damascus Station, 1)

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As a Syrian Christian myself, I am utterly disappointed with how McCloskey’s world-building and cultural sensitivity stopped at a smattering of Arabic slang and stereotypes that cater to harmful perspectives held by some of his Western audience. 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. The plot is a bit of a slow burner initially, with suspense gradually building, and the author skillfully creates tension out of seemingly mundane moments, like a character inserting a USB stick loaded with CIA spyware onto her boss's computer. Equally, I would have been thrilled with a rich historical fiction that made you feel and think deeply. When he spots her being badgered by a Syrian diplomat, Sam moves in and rescues her, then strikes up a conversation.

He struggles to hold his distance and assumes that once in Damascus, they will see each other only as the mission requires. A seasoned CIA operative with a complex past, Joseph is portrayed with a depth that goes beyond the stereotypical spy archetype. I hope the book is not an accurate portrayal of CIA personnel or activities, but I fear it probably is.David McCloskey experienced Syria firsthand as a CIA analyst, and he delivers a thrilling, graphic, gripping, and realistic--albeit fictional--portrayal of the CIA and the bloody, tragic Syrian uprising. An extremely effective modern espionage novel, filled with action and incident but also a profound knowledge of the people and factions of Syria, the complex maneuvers of spycraft, the gray areas, competing egos and overlapping priorities that make every day a journey through the minefield. Over the last year I have read a few spy novels I considered some of the best ever written and Damascus Station might be the best of the lot.

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. After the disappearance of an American spy, CIA case officer Sam travels to Paris to recruit a Syrian woman, Miriam, who knows the ins and outs of the Syrian Palace. Ben works to recruit Mariam, a Syrian intelligence official to help the United States find out more about what is going on behind the scenes in Syria. Of course, Mariam is a stunning knockout and, against all protocol, a passionate love affair blossoms between these unlikely allies. One particularly memorable figure in the story is five-foot-tall Artemis Aphrodite Procter, the Chief of Damascus Station, whose pugnacity and liberal use of the F-word sometime shock even the men around her.

David McCloskey's first novel is a compelling and realistic political and spy drama set during the early stages of the Syrian civil war. The chemistry between Joseph and Haddad adds a human element to the story, transforming it from a mere spy thriller into a tale of personal sacrifice and resilience.

But so maybe don't make the hero be a devastatingly handsome super-smart cool-headed killer who beds the sultry, luscious, quick-witted levantine martial-arts expert he's recruited? The details of the city of Damascus, the characters on all sides of the conflict, and the mission itself ring absolutely true. The power of this book is that it tells this devastating story through the eyes of those who suffered and survived because of love, the human relationship, and the power of what makes life worth living.Damascus Station combines an insider's account of tradecraft--detailed enough to satisfy the most demanding geeks--with compassion for the Syrian people, outrage at the Assad regime, and an up-to-the-minute old-fashioned love story. One cannot review Damascus Station without a word on the sheer authenticity and realism of every part of the book.

Well I had high hopes for this book, which quickly were dashed by shoddy writing, poor character development, and a plot that was like a Twinkie without the filling---quite unsatisfying. Carrying on the traditions of LeCarre and all of the other greats the twist and turns will keep you flipping the pages and questioning your self all night!Written by a former CIA analyst, Damascus Station is a gritty, brutal tale set in the midst of the Syrian Civil War. One of the best spy thrillers for years … McCloskey is a former CIA analyst who worked in the Middle East. Based on Damascus Station’s intriguing plot concept — which is very representative of the type of books I enjoy — and the advance praise it generated, I highly anticipated it to be a book I’d be recommending highly.