The Faithful Spy

By: Alex Berenson

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

“A well-crafted page-turner that addresses the most important issue of our time. It will keep you reading well into the night.” (Vince Flynn)

A New York Times reporter has drawn upon his experience covering the occupation in Iraq to write the most gripping and chillingly plausible thriller of the post-9/11 era. Alex Berenson’s debut novel of suspense, The Faithful Spy, is a sharp, explosive story that takes listeners inside the war on terror as fiction has never done before.

John Wells is the only American CIA agent ever to penetrate al Qaeda. Since before the attacks in 2001, Wells has been hiding in the mountains of Pakistan, biding his time, building his cover. Now, on the orders of Omar Khadri - the malicious mastermind plotting more al Qaeda strikes on America - Wells is coming home. Neither Khadri nor Jennifer Exley, Wells’s superior at Langley, knows quite what to expect. For Wells has changed during his years in the mountains. He has become a Muslim. He finds the United States decadent and shallow.

Yet he hates al Qaeda and the way it uses Islam to justify its murderous assaults on innocents. He is a man alone, and the CIA - still reeling from its failure to predict 9/11 or find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - does not know whether to trust him. Among his handlers at Langley, only Exley believes in him, and even she sometimes wonders. And so the agency freezes Wells out, preferring to rely on high-tech means for gathering intelligence. But as that strategy fails and Khadri moves closer to unleashing the most devastating terrorist attack in history, Wells and Exley must somehow find a way to stop him, with or without the government’s consent.

From secret American military bases where suspects are held and “interrogated” to basement laboratories where al Qaeda’s scientists grow the deadliest of biological weapons, The Faithful Spy is a riveting and cautionary tale, as affecting in its personal stories as it is sophisticated in its political details. The first spy thriller to grapple squarely with the complexities and terrors of today’s world, this is a uniquely exciting and unnerving novel by an author who truly knows his territory.

©2006 Alex Berenson (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“A well-crafted page-turner that addresses the most important issue of our time. It will keep you reading well into the night.” (Vince Flynn)

“Berenson offers a very American story - a sort of terrorist High Noon...exciting.” (The New York Times)

“A hold-your-breath thriller...a grabber.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Changing reader a good idea

What did you like best about The Faithful Spy? What did you like least?

I thought the story was good. Held my interest most of the way.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

no. Good strong voice but did a poor job on some of the characters.

Was The Faithful Spy worth the listening time?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Changing readers for later novels was a great idea.

Superb

Both the writer and the reader. I haven't enjoyed a story as much since I started the Reaubeausheau, James Lee Burke and McKinty books. I know that isn't right, but it looks closer than Robosho. Another example of a very good book with a very good reader. Looking forward to more Berenson

The Faithful Spy

We listened to this book as we traveled across the Midwest. A couple of us didn't want to get out of the car to stop for lunch. Gripping, thought provoking, very timely. Hard to shake off the reality of this one.

Amazing read!

loved every minute of it. narrarator did an amazing job breathing life into the story. can't wait to read part II

AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK

I listened to the unabridged edition & was very impressed with the way the plot unfolded & the unexpected ending. Additionally the narrator Robertson Dean belongs right up there with Scott Brick. Eagerly awaiting Audible to have more books by Alex Berenson

Very interesting

I really like this book. It kept you interested.

Great series

As with all of the books I read /listen to multiple times, this is a great one. I would give it a 5 star, but those are reserved for the extremely great books.

Excellent

Good Story a little pedictable at times but plenty of twists and turns. I would recommend it.

Excellent and plausible story

very good story. maybe a few technical details seemed off but not a problem. narrator was great...too great since I usually crawled into bed to listen and his mellifluous voice put me to sleep!!

Exciting and eye opening

I loved this audiobook! It was not only interesting and captivating, but it made me think about the Middle East and terrorism in ways I never have before. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. One of the best.