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

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This is a well-balanced story, filled with plenty of action and intrigue, dangerous situations, and the ever-present violence that was (and still is) Syria in the 2010s. A] gripping, well-written page turner that is part-thriller, part-love story, part-spy tale, and part-historical fiction concerning Syria and the Arab Spring. Sam knows this is forbidden by the CIA; a case officer should never enter into a relationship with an agent.

While at the CIA, he worked in field stations across the Middle East and briefed senior White House officials and Arab royalty. The most realistic and authentic depiction of modern-day tradecra ft in nonpermissive and hostile environments you will find in print. This sobering and electrifying novel is a nail-biter that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the last page is read.A. from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, where he specialized in energy policy and the Middle East. Damascus Station is filled with the acronyms and jargon that officers of the agency, like employees throughout the government, throw around so casually. 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. The most realistic and authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in nonpermissive and hostile environments you will find in print.

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. I had only devoured a dozen or so chapters, before I realized that this book is worthy of every ounce of praise. Standout debut from a veteran former CIA officer … packed with insider knowledge and the story itself feels completely authentic. T]his propulsive thriller is at once a master class in spy craft and a poignant story of forbidden love set during the brutal Syrian civil war. McCloskey took many liberties with Arabic translations – such as incorrectly translating the term “felaheen,” a word my family identifies with as members of the peasant class, to “.For me, a book should gather pace, perhaps a slow start as we get used to the characters, but then building to a crescendo. The characters are believable, and the balance between tradecraft, action sequences and character interactions is done well. Eight or nine years ago, when Barack Obama served in the White House, the fighting in Syria was at its peak. Once in Damascus, Joseph and Head of Station, Artemis Proctor are thrust into a dangerous game as they hunt for the man responsible for the disappearance of a CIA officer in the city. His flaws, vulnerabilities, and unwavering determination make him a compelling protagonist whose every move is as calculated as it is unpredictable.

The author who is former CIA, takes on a journey with a mildly unlikable main character that is attempting to recruit a very attractive female Syrian asset---google very attractive Syrian woman. During this time, he wrote near-weekly memos for the President’s Daily Brief (PDB), lived and worked in CIA field stations throughout the region, and briefed senior White House officials, members of Congress, and Arab royalty. Damascus Station" is a triumph in the espionage genre, seamlessly blending action, suspense, and a touch of romance. She is torn between her love for Sam versus her love for her hot-headed, impetuous and slightly crazy cousin Razan. If you're a fan of the espionage/spy thriller genre, I can pretty much guarantee you'll love this book.

In this gripping espionage tale, Joseph is tasked with unraveling the mystery behind the disappearance of an American spy, and the narrative spans from the romantic streets of Paris to the enigmatic alleys of Damascus. A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in Damascus to hunt for a killerCIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. Equally, I would have been thrilled with a rich historical fiction that made you feel and think deeply. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Both Sam and Mariam are unusually attractive (of course, this being fiction), and they are drawn together from the outset.