CIA agent John Wells returns, in a novel that reaches beyond today's headlines to foretell dangers yet to come, from the author of The Faithful Spy-"one of the best spy stories ever told" (The Wall Street Journal).
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The Ghost War
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Having foiled an al-Qaeda plot targeting Times Square in 2006's The Faithful Spy (which won an Edgar Award for best first novel), maverick CIA agent John Wells confronts a very different threat in this pulse-pounding sequel from New York Times reporter Berenson. When the CIA's efforts to extract Dr. Sung Kwan, a North Korean scientist and an invaluable source on Kim Jong Il's nuclear ambitions, result in the deaths of Kwan and the rescue team, Wells's significant other, Jennifer Exley, searches to identify the person in U.S. intelligence who compromised Kwan's security. Meanwhile, Wells returns to Afghanistan, the scene of much of the action in The Faithful Spy, to find out what outside country has been helping the Taliban reassert itself. While the mole hunt will be familiar to genre buffs and the characters and the perils they face aren't as nuanced as those in John le Carré or even David Ignatius, the author's plausible scenario distinguishes this from most spy thrillers. Author tour. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Seasoned narrator Guidall takes listeners on a global journey of espionage and intrigue, breathing life into CIA agent John Wells, whose voice teems with emotion. Wells’ assignment involves ferreting out a CIA mole, and the tenseness of the task is evident in Guidall’s terse tones. When it becomes clear that the mole is selling secrets to the Chinese, and Wells tries to recover a CIA undercover agent in North Korea, Guidall instills Wells’ voice with carefully placed pauses. These pauses highlight Wells’ confusion and despair at the realization that a conflict between world powers may be imminent, and there seems to be nothing he can do to stop it. Berenson’s follow-up to The Faithful Spy (2007) is a winner. --Sheri Melnick
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
As a reporter for The New York Times, Alex Berenson has covered topics ranging from the occupation of Iraq to the flooding of New Orleans to the financial crimes of Bernie Madoff.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I grew up on the espionage fiction of John Le Carre, Len Deighton, and Frederick Forsyth. In more recent years, I've become a fan of Daniel Silva and others who capture the nuances of modern politics and intrigue. When I came across Berenson's "The Faithful Spy," I felt like I'd discovered a new novelist to follow along this genre's tenuous path, so I was excited to see his second book hit the shelves.
"The Ghost War" starts with some interesting scenarios by delving into the areas of North Korea and China. He raises questions that demand answers, and gives a cautionary tale of sorts. Again, we follow the career of John Wells, a steadfast, pragmatic loner, who now plays the uncomfortable role of American hero. Wells is in a relationship that could add depth for continued books, but that fails to do much here. In fact, I felt that Berenson set up a number of elements for the series' continuation, while never quite giving us the focus of his debut thriller. He brushes up against Vince Flynn stereotypes, then pokes at Le Carre themes, and never really establishes his own identity.
I'm not worried, though. I have no doubt that Berenson is on the verge of creating a strong line of Wells' novels. "The Faithful Spy" was a breath of fresh air, "The Ghost War" is an author catching his breath, and I expect from here he'll be running with a second wind. I'll certainly pick up the next book, but I can only hope it builds on the promise. Until then, I'll be waiting for Silva's "Moscow Rules."
"The Ghost War" starts with some interesting scenarios by delving into the areas of North Korea and China. He raises questions that demand answers, and gives a cautionary tale of sorts. Again, we follow the career of John Wells, a steadfast, pragmatic loner, who now plays the uncomfortable role of American hero. Wells is in a relationship that could add depth for continued books, but that fails to do much here. In fact, I felt that Berenson set up a number of elements for the series' continuation, while never quite giving us the focus of his debut thriller. He brushes up against Vince Flynn stereotypes, then pokes at Le Carre themes, and never really establishes his own identity.
I'm not worried, though. I have no doubt that Berenson is on the verge of creating a strong line of Wells' novels. "The Faithful Spy" was a breath of fresh air, "The Ghost War" is an author catching his breath, and I expect from here he'll be running with a second wind. I'll certainly pick up the next book, but I can only hope it builds on the promise. Until then, I'll be waiting for Silva's "Moscow Rules."
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Berenson's first book, The Faithful Spy, was amazing - crisp writing, well-thought-out action, fine character development. The loss that John Wells incurred by serving as the secret servant of the US for many years was staggeringly portrayed: the deaths of his parents, the loss of contact with his child, the sense of being out-of-step with what he thought of as his own culture, all of this should have made even the most cynical readers think about what deep-cover agents agree to give up. It's hard to imagine how Berenson could have upped the stakes in a second novel.
And he doesn't. He simply provides a compelling and realistic continuation of the narrative. What can Wells do to top saving the world in Times Square? Not much. But Berenson gives us another tale well worth reading, as well as a number if political zingers to wonder over.
The John Wells character continues to develop in The Ghost War, and unsurprisingly he is beset by doubts about how he can sustain the life he has fallen into back in the States. Berenson, realizing that his readers expect action, doesn't let this introspection go on too long, but it is a necessary preface to the main events of the novel; without that we would just have James Bond walking in the door and greeting Moneypenny, ready for the next adventure.
Jennifer Exley, the CIA handler who saves Wells in the first book, is back, but we see less of her than I had hoped. There are some passages about her choice of a professional life over the young children she has, but these all have a slightly formulaic ring. Yes, Exley avoids stereotypes, but that's about the best that we can say for her in this book. Even her out-of-the-box solution for getting Wells back is given only the briefest brush of ink. More next time?
The other important characters - Li, Cao, and the mole - are believable, but the American character's motivation is given much, much more ink, something of a problem, I think. Cao's thinking is at least as important, but we don't get enough of it.
These are quibbles. The settings - the coast of North Korea, Afghanistan, China -- are vividly described, the action is practically non-stop, and the day is saved by human cleverness and perseverance, not by techno-interventions. The DC in-fighting has the sad ring of truth, while the recognition of China as a threat moves beyond head-line ripping and into political commentary. This is a terrific read.
And he doesn't. He simply provides a compelling and realistic continuation of the narrative. What can Wells do to top saving the world in Times Square? Not much. But Berenson gives us another tale well worth reading, as well as a number if political zingers to wonder over.
The John Wells character continues to develop in The Ghost War, and unsurprisingly he is beset by doubts about how he can sustain the life he has fallen into back in the States. Berenson, realizing that his readers expect action, doesn't let this introspection go on too long, but it is a necessary preface to the main events of the novel; without that we would just have James Bond walking in the door and greeting Moneypenny, ready for the next adventure.
Jennifer Exley, the CIA handler who saves Wells in the first book, is back, but we see less of her than I had hoped. There are some passages about her choice of a professional life over the young children she has, but these all have a slightly formulaic ring. Yes, Exley avoids stereotypes, but that's about the best that we can say for her in this book. Even her out-of-the-box solution for getting Wells back is given only the briefest brush of ink. More next time?
The other important characters - Li, Cao, and the mole - are believable, but the American character's motivation is given much, much more ink, something of a problem, I think. Cao's thinking is at least as important, but we don't get enough of it.
These are quibbles. The settings - the coast of North Korea, Afghanistan, China -- are vividly described, the action is practically non-stop, and the day is saved by human cleverness and perseverance, not by techno-interventions. The DC in-fighting has the sad ring of truth, while the recognition of China as a threat moves beyond head-line ripping and into political commentary. This is a terrific read.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Alex Berenson's premiere thriller, THE FAITHFUL SPY, introduced CIA agent John Wells, a character who truly stood out among fictional spies. He had been under cover for ten years, infiltrating Al Qaeda. Embedded, he became a practicing Muslim in deed and, intriguingly, thought.
THE GHOST WAR picks up Wells' story after he has been back in the U.S. for some time. Insomnia plagues his restless mind and body, so he speeds along largely empty interstates in the dead of night on his black Honda motorcycle, taking "joyless joyrides." He's become a re-Americanized guy, a guy who no longer prays five times a day, who is no longer Muslim (or "Moslem," the alternate spelling) and therein lies a loss of distinction. Suddenly, Alex Berenson's hero tends to blend into the crowd of fellow super-spies whose tales line the bookstore adventure shelves.
Once one has accustomed oneself to Wells' more generic identity, THE GHOST WAR is a solid (but not exceptional) read. He is a hero at loose ends, a man in need of a new mission, his loyal and loving girlfriend (and boss), Jennifer Exley, is sure. And since the world is never a static, uncomplicated place, one comes his way in short order.
The basic geopolitical premises the fuel the plot are credible. Certainly, China and the U.S. could flirt dangerously with war. Certainly, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, and other "hot spots" could play parts in exacerbating tensions between the current superpower and, according to some predictions, its presumed successor. And it goes without saying that the CIA sends spies to gather vital intelligence and extract foreign nationals who are vital assets. So, THE GHOST WAR is, in many ways, a believable techno-thriller. Perhaps, the machinations and motivations amongst the Chinese rulers are over-simplified, but overall, Berenson maintains a good pace, introduces characters skillfully, and pumps up the suspense level several times to fine effect.
John Wells is an American spy and man of action worth following through further adventures, but he would stand out in the genre better if he regained some of the unique outlook with which he was originally introduced.
THE GHOST WAR picks up Wells' story after he has been back in the U.S. for some time. Insomnia plagues his restless mind and body, so he speeds along largely empty interstates in the dead of night on his black Honda motorcycle, taking "joyless joyrides." He's become a re-Americanized guy, a guy who no longer prays five times a day, who is no longer Muslim (or "Moslem," the alternate spelling) and therein lies a loss of distinction. Suddenly, Alex Berenson's hero tends to blend into the crowd of fellow super-spies whose tales line the bookstore adventure shelves.
Once one has accustomed oneself to Wells' more generic identity, THE GHOST WAR is a solid (but not exceptional) read. He is a hero at loose ends, a man in need of a new mission, his loyal and loving girlfriend (and boss), Jennifer Exley, is sure. And since the world is never a static, uncomplicated place, one comes his way in short order.
The basic geopolitical premises the fuel the plot are credible. Certainly, China and the U.S. could flirt dangerously with war. Certainly, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, and other "hot spots" could play parts in exacerbating tensions between the current superpower and, according to some predictions, its presumed successor. And it goes without saying that the CIA sends spies to gather vital intelligence and extract foreign nationals who are vital assets. So, THE GHOST WAR is, in many ways, a believable techno-thriller. Perhaps, the machinations and motivations amongst the Chinese rulers are over-simplified, but overall, Berenson maintains a good pace, introduces characters skillfully, and pumps up the suspense level several times to fine effect.
John Wells is an American spy and man of action worth following through further adventures, but he would stand out in the genre better if he regained some of the unique outlook with which he was originally introduced.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hard to put down
I was not a big fan of Alex Berenson's first novel, The Faithful Spy. It was good enough to read, but I never felt gripped or engaged with the story. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mathachew
Doesn't live up to 'The Faithful Spy' ..... but
it would be hard to top Berenson's first novel. That is not to say that 'Ghost War' isn't highly readable. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MED
North Korea, Afghanistan, China, Iran: they all come together in this...
Contemporary novels about espionage tend to focus on the rise of China, North Korea, Iran, or Middle Eastern terrorism. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mal Warwick
A Worthy Sequel
This is the second book by this author where the main character is John Wells, the CIA operative who infiltrated (it's not clear which) either al Qaeda or the Taliban in... Read more
Published 4 months ago by David W. Nicholas
Leftist slant
The leftist slant--sometimes blatant, sometimes subtle--was annoying. Typical "blame America first" assumptions were evident at a number of points. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stuart Gordon
Horribly Boring And Disjointed
My first John Wells book was The Midnight House, which I enjoyed tremendously. Usually, whenever I find a series I enjoy, if I have read a book out of order I'll start at or near... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mishka
Saving the world is no cartoon
Often I envy writers like Berenson who so easily transport us to places like North Korea and Afghanistan, as well as inside the workings of groups like the CIA and Al Queda and the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ron Lealos
Fun - But With A Flawed Archaic Litereary Technique
A thriller. I didn't read the first book with this character (are there more than one?) but it was synopsized (?) adequately in this novel. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Michael P. McCullough
Berenson's 2nd book better than first (a real compliment)
"The Ghost War" was better than Alex Berenson's first John Wells book "The Faithful Spy," which is quite a compliment. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jarratt Bryan
4.5 Stars; really enjoyed this novel
I thoroughly enjoyed Alex Berenson's second installment of his John Wells series. This time, Wells is famous for his previous heroics and it's driving him nuts. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Roy C. Nickerson
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Introduction (From Wikipedia)
The Ghost War is the second John Wells thriller by The New York Times writer, Alex Berenson. In The Faithful Spy, John Wells became the only American CIA agent ever to penetrate al-Qaeda, but his handlers became distrustful of him, and he of them. He had to stop a devastating terrorist attack nearly alone. Now Wells is back in Washington, D.C.. His wounds have healed, but his mind is far from clear. He is restless, uneasy in his skin, and careless with his safety. When the CIA finds evidence of a surge in Taliban activity, backed by an unknown foreign power, it takes little to convince Wells to return to Afghanistan to investigate. But what he discovers there is far from what he expected.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
TED BECK WALKED WEST DOWN THE ROTTING PIER, squinting through his wraparound sunglasses into the late-afternoon haze. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
green windbreaker Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, North Korea, Yellow Sea, Standing Committee, Black Hawk, New York, Wen Shubai, Special Forces, Keith Robinson, East Hampton, John Wells, White House, Forbidden City, People's Republic, Hong Kong, General Secretary, People's Liberation Army, Comrade Zhang, Second Directorate, Pierre Kowalski, Air Force, Times Square, Cold War, Vinny Duto, Red Star Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
TED BECK WALKED WEST DOWN THE ROTTING PIER, squinting through his wraparound sunglasses into the late-afternoon haze. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
green windbreaker Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, North Korea, Yellow Sea, Standing Committee, Black Hawk, New York, Wen Shubai, Special Forces, Keith Robinson, East Hampton, John Wells, White House, Forbidden City, People's Republic, Hong Kong, General Secretary, People's Liberation Army, Comrade Zhang, Second Directorate, Pierre Kowalski, Air Force, Times Square, Cold War, Vinny Duto, Red Star Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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