The Shadow Patrol
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

The real-world 2009 suicide bombing that killed most of the senior staff of the CIA's Kabul, Afghanistan, station shattered that operation's effectiveness. It's now 2011, and Director of Central Intelligence Vinnie Duto calls on John Wells to investigate the possibilities of a leak and of drug trafficking at the still-reeling station. Wells, who left the agency because of Duto, accepts and returns to the war-torn country. He's soon menaced by Afghans involved in the drug trade, a CIA survivor of the suicide bombing, and an unhinged Special Forces sniper, whose three tours of duty have been too much. Berenson paints a vivid, verisimilar portrait of Afghanistan, the enormous U.S. military installations there, and the country outside the wire. He adroitly sketches characters with a single pithy sentence, such as, about the manipulative Duto, His smile was all lips and no eyes. He also communicates a searing and all-too-plausible pessimism about U.S. prospects there. Although The Shadow Patrol lacks some of the emotional force of Berenson's previous novels (e.g., The Secret Soldier, 2011), it's still a fine thriller.--Gaughan, Thomas Copyright 2010 Booklist

In this latest installment in Berenson's popular series, former CIA agent John Wells is hired by the agency to go undercover and investigate deadly and divisive activities at its flagging facility in Kabul, Afghanistan. There, Wells discovers the situation is worse than expected, with a drug-trafficking operation in full flower, morale bottoming out, an assassination being planned, and an unidentified American calling all the shots. George Guidall provides solid, naturalistic narration and offers up a variety of international accents. Much of the novel consists of Berenson's darkly sardonic descriptions of war and its weary and jaded warriors-and Guidall adapts his naturally comforting, avuncular voice accordingly, adding a touch of cynicism and irony. Additionally effective are the narrator's skillful flourishes: a hesitant speech pattern to indicate deceit, the hint of uncertainty in a killer's boast. A Putnam hardcover. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tougher than Kevlar, John Wells is in Afghanistan for his sixth outing (after The Secret Soldier) in league with best-selling author and former New York Times reporter Berenson. Wells may suffer a bit of ennui from his killing lifestyle, but his high-octane adventure keeps his readers revved-up and racing to reach the end. The job is to track down a mole operating at the CIA station in Kabul. Soon, Wells realizes that heroin trafficking is at the core of the betrayal. Relying on nuances, a few bits of circumstantial evidence, and his own strong experiences, Wells lays and springs a trap with himself as bait. Verdict As real as the morning headlines, this thriller pours on the blood and guts but also traces the enigmas faced by men in a war zone. Berenson's special gift is to crank up the suspense until the armchair spy hollers for relief-and the next Wells installment. [See Prepub Alert, 8/8/11.]-Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The Faithful Spy, 2006, etc.) will find more to like here, including plenty of superbly paced action sequences, and the kind of background that suggests a better-than-average understanding of what soldiers on the ground actually see in Afghanistan. Skeptics will continue to roll their eyes at Wells' superhuman ability to, almost at the drop of a hat, pass for a national from whichever Middle Eastern country best suits his needs. There are also a few too-convenient plot twists, including a head-scratching scene wherein a conspirator in the smuggling ring is discovered thanks to the fact that he has "friended" a co-conspirator on Facebook. However, the prose is airtight, the pacing is excellent and the phenomenal action sequences more than make up for minor weaknesses in the plot. Berenson's highly enjoyable series continues with more of the rock-solid same.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The real-world 2009 suicide bombing that killed most of the senior staff of the CIA's Kabul, Afghanistan, station shattered that operation's effectiveness. It's now 2011, and Director of Central Intelligence Vinnie Duto calls on John Wells to investigate the possibilities of a leak and of drug trafficking at the still-reeling station. Wells, who left the agency because of Duto, accepts and returns to the war-torn country. He's soon menaced by Afghans involved in the drug trade, a CIA survivor of the suicide bombing, and an unhinged Special Forces sniper, whose three tours of duty have been too much. Berenson paints a vivid, verisimilar portrait of Afghanistan, the enormous U.S. military installations there, and the country "outside the wire." He adroitly sketches characters with a single pithy sentence, such as, about the manipulative Duto, "His smile was all lips and no eyes." He also communicates a searing and all-too-plausible pessimism about U.S. prospects there. Although The Shadow Patrol lacks some of the emotional force of Berenson's previous novels (e.g., The Secret Soldier, 2011), it's still a fine thriller. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

Not so long ago, a source that had promised to deliver Osama bin Laden to agents at the CIA's Kabul station instead blew up the place. With the station still in disarray and agents still dying, high-ups suspect Taliban infiltration and send John Wells to investigate. It's not a pretty sight—Wells gets wind of a drug-trafficking operation that could involve agents, the military, and the Taliban working together—but Edgar Award winner Berenson should deliver a good read.

Tougher than Kevlar, John Wells is in Afghanistan for his sixth outing (after The Secret Soldier) in league with best-selling author and former New York Times reporter Berenson. Wells may suffer a bit of ennui from his killing lifestyle, but his high-octane adventure keeps his readers revved-up and racing to reach the end. The job is to track down a mole operating at the CIA station in Kabul. Soon, Wells realizes that heroin trafficking is at the core of the betrayal. Relying on nuances, a few bits of circumstantial evidence, and his own strong experiences, Wells lays and springs a trap with himself as bait. Verdict As real as the morning headlines, this thriller pours on the blood and guts but also traces the enigmas faced by men in a war zone. Berenson's special gift is to crank up the suspense until the armchair spy hollers for relief-and the next Wells installment. [See Prepub Alert, 8/8/11.]-Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edgar-winner Berenson's compelling sixth spy thriller starring ex-CIA operative John Wells (after 2011's The Secret Soldier) highlights an unsavory aspect of the Afghanistan war: U.S. soldiers who engage in drug smuggling while fighting the Taliban. The chief bad guy, Delta sniper Daniel Francesca, kills Taliban fighters and does away with any Americans who may be onto his drug-smuggling activities. The sniper, who's on his third tour in Afghanistan, has clearly gone over the line when it comes to morality or sanity. Francesca not only knows that Wells, who's come to Kabul to ferret out a mole in the capital's CIA station, is on his trail but relishes the battle. It's this riveting duel between good and evil that will keep readers blazing through the pages, while several other more mundane plot lines get lost in the background. This consistently interesting series shows no signs of running out of steam. Agent: Heather Schroder, ICM. (Feb.)