Customer Reviews

The People of the Veil

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm sorry for the people who has invested money to buy this book, really. I love thillers and I love Algeria and have been there three times for quite a long stay (average 25 days) and this book has managed to leave me cold and indiferent.
Algerian people are really nice and loyal friends, that I agree with but Touaregs live their life in the far South and they would never go to Algiers to play war of guerrilla. And there is something more: with the settlement of the nomad tribes came the Islamization, yes. But Touaregs have been traditionally animists and their traditions are very different from what is pictured here.
In the terrible years of the terror war there is no way they would make an alliance with GIA to go up North in a massive manner (25!!) and there is something else: you will not find a Touareg dress with the cheche (turbant) in Algiers!!. Simply there is not need for it.

Despite the fact that the author was arrested last year for allegedly raping two Algerian women, I hunted down a copy of this book with interest. My thought was that if he really was a Chief of Station for the CIA in Algeria - you've gotta be pretty smart to be a CIA station chief, right? - then regardless of his other actions, his book must be pretty good.

I was wrong.

The plot is intriguing - I'll give him that - involving terrorists attempting to take over the US Embassy in Algers, Algeria during the midst of a fundamentalist Islamic uprising. So far, so good. But this book is proof that a plot alone does not a good thriller make.

The characters are wooden and one-dimensional. The hero is blatantly the author. For example, on the back of the book, he puts down that he obtained a Master's Degree in Middle East History and Arabic. Nick, the hero? The same. My guess is that the author knows some martial arts just like "Nick" does. But beyond that, I can't count how many times there was some phrase in the book like: "Nick always did the right thing," or "Nick treated everyone with respect" or "She thought of Nick; he was always strong." Nick could do no wrong in this book.

Likewise, we have no background on history on Gunny, the RSO, Sarah, or any of the other Embassy employees, and very little on any of the terrorists. They're just cardboard cutouts, there to stand in whenever Nick walks through a scene.

The book was repetitive and the dialogue painful. There are typos and other errors - one wonders how the book made it through the editing process and whether it was professionally copyedited or not. In short, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

The only interesting note is that the author was arrested for his alleged rapes by Diplomatic Security, the same agency that the author noted: "are the security experts within the State Department. More often they were FBI wannabes who were incompetents with no grasp of the cultures they served in. Other federal agents actually called it 'discount security' instead of Diplomatic Security." Hopefully the irony was not lost on Mr. Warren when "discount" Diplomatic Security placed handcuffs on him.

I haven't read it, but I am curious if the brave and so honorable protagonist uses Xanax and Valium to subdue and interrogate ruthless female enemy agents posing as nice, modest women while in Algeria?

If not in this book, perhaps in the sequel, which I understand a CIA operative with embassy cover manages to terribly harm the US reputation, feed Al Qaeda's hate machine, and endanger the lives of countless Americans in the Middle East -- all while having sworn to defend our country? That would be a great story!

Edit: Hey while five visitors found my review helpful, four found it not helpful. Amazon tracked those four down votes to BlackberryIPs in turn assigned to a small import export firm called "Langley Vetting" somewhere in Virginia. Strange.

This is not my usual pick of books to read, but once I picked it up I could not put it down. I learned a great deal about the Middle East and it's Culture. I suggest this as must read for the summer

Andrew Warren offers a timely education on middle east culture with a light romantic twist. In light of the ongoing situation in Algeria and the threat of terroriom worldwide, this is certainly a plausible scenario. Excellent details on security issues, Islamic culture, and terrorist tactics. The more I read, the closer I felt to the action, and the more I empathized with Embassy personnel and Marines who man these forward posts daily. I especially liked the way he captured the heroism and the moral quandary of the local nationals - all balanced and insightful. Nick Philips is the hero, but he has a strong supporting cast of convincing characters. The book is loaded with short chapters that you just can't put down. Strong 5 stars for this first time author. Movie material!!

If you like realistic, well written fiction, then this book is for you. This book is a real page turner! The author is obviously very knowledgable about the arab culture, arab mindset, terrorism and the arab world in general. Although fictional, the book is also very educational, as it weaves history, current events, terrorist operations/mindset, and information about how our diplomatic missions function into the story line. The story centers on the second in charge of the U.S. Embassy in Algiers. The government in Algeria is on the verge of collapse. The terrorists have devised a plan to take over the Embassy and kill everyone inside, to help further their goal of an Islamic Fundamentalist state in Algeria. The terrorists devise an ingenious plot to bypass the embassy security and gain entrance. (you'll have to read the rest). The characters and plot are very realistic and obviously based on a combination of extensive research and real life experience. I highly recommend this novel!

People of the Veil is an intelligent novel concerning the struggles of an American diplomat and Islamic fundamentalist in civil war torn Algeria. The author displays his knowledge of Arab culture, State department politics, and Islam in a fast paced thriller that becomes increasingly difficult to put down. The villains are multi-dimensional and move beyond cliched Hollywood and CNN portrayals of terrorists...they may be nasty but you know why! Dirk Pitt and Jack Ryan will need to make some room for Nick Phillips. This book must be made into a movie. Buy it. You won't regret it.

The book was a rare cambinet of a suspenseful thriller and a sweeping romance. As a woman, I could relate. Typically, this isn't the type of book that I would pick up, but my husband read it and as he was telling me about it I decided to read it myself. I could not put it down. The book took me on a journey with both the protagonist and the villian. I loved it. What a story. WOW!

This is not my usual pick of books to read, but once IO picked it up I couldn't put it down. It was very informative, I learned a great deal about the Middle East and the Culture. I really do suggest you pick this book up.