The Damascus Letter: A Spy Novel [Paperback]

Daniel Dick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2010

A compelling, modern-day American hero leads the way in this intense international thriller.

When the head of the CIA's Clandestine Service learns that the United States is under imminent threat of another attack, potentially involving agents of the Iranian Government, he turns to the one man he knows can uncover the truth and stop the bloodshed. Akil Hassan—born an Arab, raised an American—was the CIA's top man inside the Middle East, until he broke the Agency's rules. Cast out, he's now being offered a second chance. But in order to stop what's coming and save tens of thousands of lives, he's going to have to risk everything he has—his career, his family, his life—by breaking the rules all over again.

Reminiscent of Tom Clancy, this carefully researched and often prescient novel offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into the terrorist mindset while delivering a pulse-pounding tale of covert espionage. Loaded with ultra-relevant issues and themes, full of rich characters, and offering a frighteningly realistic scenario of terrorism that is all too plausible and all too real, The Damascus Letter enlightens as well as entertains.

PRAISE FOR THE DAMASCUS LETTER:

"As a former Intelligence Officer there are two elements of The Damascus Letter that worry me. First, how does the author get so many details so perfectly right? And, secondly, how does he write so well? It has not been my experience that people in the Intelligence Community have a gift for clarity and narrative drive. Daniel Dick does. This book is cool, lean, hard-edged, and a runaway freight of a story, but it's also layered, full of rich characters who are completely realized, even the transient ones, and the plot is all too plausible, and all too real. In short, a damn good book. I wish I'd written it."
-- David Stone, NYT’s Bestselling Author of The Echelon Vendetta & The Skorpion Directive

"The Damascus Letter is a wonderful surprise. First time novelists in the espionage genre are held to a higher standard among their peers and very few rise to the challenge, but Daniel Dick's mastery of plot and character, his sense of realism and authoritative writing style herald a rare and exciting new voice in the genre, one that not only sings with the masters, but adds to their song." 
-- Michael Frost Beckner, Hollywood Screenwriter of Spy Game & Sniper

"A nail-biter of a thriller, loaded with ultra-relevant issues and themes. Suspenseful, even-handed and well-researched, The Damascus Letter puts a frighteningly human face to the threat of terror. Well worth the read!"
-- Daniel Kalla, Bestselling Author of Pandemic & Of Flesh And Blood

Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR THE DAMASCUS LETTER:

"As a former Intelligence Officer there are two elements of The Damascus Letter that worry me. First, how does the author get so many details so perfectly right? And, secondly, how does he write so well? It has not been my experience that people in the Intelligence Community have a gift for clarity and narrative drive. Daniel Dick does. This book is cool, lean, hard-edged, and a runaway freight of a story, but it's also layered, full of rich characters who are completely realized, even the transient ones, and the plot is all too plausible, and all too real. In short, a damn good book. I wish I'd written it."
-- David Stone, NYT’s Bestselling Author of The Echelon Vendetta & The Skorpion Directive

"The Damascus Letter is a wonderful surprise. First time novelists in the espionage genre are held to a higher standard among their peers and very few rise to the challenge, but Daniel Dick's mastery of plot and character, his sense of realism and authoritative writing style herald a rare and exciting new voice in the genre, one that not only sings with the masters, but adds to their song." 
-- Michael Frost Beckner, Hollywood Screenwriter of Spy Game & Sniper

"A nail-biter of a thriller, loaded with ultra-relevant issues and themes. Suspenseful, even-handed and well-researched, The Damascus Letter puts a frighteningly human face to the threat of terror. Well worth the read!"
-- Daniel Kalla, Bestselling Author of Pandemic & Of Flesh And Blood


"A damn good book." -- David Stone, NYT’s Bestselling Author of The Echelon Vendetta & The Skorpion Directive "The Damascus Letter is a wonderful surprise." -- Michael Frost Beckner, Hollywood Screenwriter of Spy Game & Sniper "A nail-biter of a thriller!" -- Daniel Kalla, Bestselling Author of Pandemic & Of Flesh And Blood

About the Author

For more than a decade Daniel Dick has developed stories, created characters, and written screenplays for Universal, Disney, EA, Take-Two, and most recently finished work on the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs franchise for Sony Entertainment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: Black Diamond Publishing (January 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0986495905
• ISBN-13: 978-0986495908
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For more than a decade Daniel Dick has developed stories, created characters, and written screenplays for Universal, Disney, EA, Take-Two, and recently completed work on the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs franchise for Sony Entertainment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, provocative, terrifying, March 19, 2010

By 

J. Sanders (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Damascus Letter: A Spy Novel (Paperback)

When I was a boy, there was a rumor going around that Tom Clancy had been taken into custody by the CIA because his novels about the US military were so accurate, the CIA figured he must be part of some kind of spy network.

When I read _The Damascus Letter_, I had the same feeling I used to get from Clancy novels. It's not just that DL is compelling. It's not just that I was biting my nails while I read it. It's that Dick moves with such confidence around the most private rooms and inner politics of the CIA that I kept wondering if the CIA was going to take him into custody and ask him how he knew so damn much.

But as much as I admire the detail of the book, what's most impressive is how relentlessly it deals with the ethics of its subject. I don't mean that the novel gets up on a soapbox and preaches about the necessity or evil of, um, harsh interrogation techniques. I mean it's a book driven by Americans who are themselves tortured on a daily basis over the competing needs for information, national safety, the moral high ground, and the ability to go to sleep at night knowing they acted like decent human beings. What I admire most about the book is the deep, honest struggle the book makes with questions of utter relevance to today. The book reminds me of _24_ when that show is having its rarest, best moments--the big difference being that Dick's novel can take its time showing how much these decisions cost its characters.

The ethics of Dick's book are as messy as its storytelling is clear. It's a smart, powerful book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pedestrian Spy Novel, July 18, 2010

By 

Semaj - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Damascus Letter: A Spy Novel (Paperback)

This first novel by Daniel Dick is both predictable and a tad trite. Every move but the final one by the hero will be a moment too late. The appointed head of the Agency is an overbearing idiot. The supporting character heroine is stunning, hungry and a super cop with morals.

That said, the basic threat was real enough and threatening enough to sustain interest and some of the techniques for smuggling were original. One major flaw in the plot is the pure and unexplained happenstance of the first critical clue. That past, the rest of the tale flows logically and the gimmick of getting the Iranian and American secret services on the same side was quite clever. Daniel Dick may yet write a very good spy novel, but this was not it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad first novel, August 1, 2010

By 

Kaatz99 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Damascus Letter: A Spy Novel (Paperback)

This is my first venture into spy novels and it wasn't a bad start for DD.

What I didn't like:
There were times where things fell together too well within the plot impacting the believability. That said, other parts were good enough to overlook.
I was worried the end would get wrapped up too quickly when I hit the 90% mark. Unfortunately, it did end too quickly without explanation on some points that perhaps DD could have further explained. Perhaps this is a set up for future books starring Akil Hassan.

What I liked:
It seemed very pertinent to today's environment with respect to middle east tensions and the exposure we have domestically.
The plot is something I have often thought of regarding terrorist targets...I won't spoil it for you.
Fast moving for the most part
Very realistic perspectives from the side of the terrorists and their motives.