The Assassination Option

A Clandestine Operations Novel, Book 2

By: W.E.B. Griffin, William E. Butterworth IV

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

From the #1 New York Times - and Wall Street Journal - best-selling author comes the dramatic second adventure in the brand-new Clandestine Operations series about the Cold War, the fledgling Central Intelligence Agency - and a new breed of warrior.

In Top Secret, W.E.B. Griffin introduced a remarkable new cast of heroes as they found themselves on the front lines of an entirely different kind of war. Now, these men and women are going to find out what they’ve really gotten themselves into.

James Cronley thought he had done well - he didn't know he’d done this well.

His first successful mission for the about-to-be-official new Central Intelligence Directorate has drawn all kinds of attention, some welcome, some not. On the plus side, he's now a captain; promoted to Chief, DCI, Europe; and in charge of a top secret spy operation. On the minus side, a lot of people would like to know about that operation, including not only the Soviets, but his own Pentagon, as well as a seething J. Edgar Hoover.

Cronley knows that if just one thing goes wrong, he's likely to get thrown to the wolves. As if that weren't enough pressure, complications are springing up on all sides. He's discovered a surprising alliance between the former German intelligence chief and, of all things, the Mossad. A German family that Cronley never knew he had has suddenly, and suspiciously, emerged. And he's due for a rendezvous with an undercover agent against the Soviets known only as Seven K.

It’s when he meets Seven K that he gets the real surprise.

©2014 W.E.B. Griffin (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Recorded by arrangement with G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

enjoy WEB Griffin

Griffin had me at the Leutenants and have enjoyed all of his books

Captain Cronley

Really enjoyed the story and the integration of facts and fiction. I do dislike that we have more or less dropped Kletus Frada.
The rescue was very dramatic but short still a great story.

Too much detail

Would have been better with less detail about location. Made it hard to follow story.

love it

love WEB books. only author that I read / listen to books over and over.

Great newer novel

Great story author reader. lots of nonstop action similar characters. WWII time frame. historically accurate

fantastic book and reading

loved the book and a great performance by the narrator. can't wait for the next one.

Outstandingly story

Nothing like truth in the events of this book. It is worthy to note, events of today are the result on the actions contained in this book.

Good plot. Lousy operational security.

Loved the story and characters. Had a problem with telling everyone you meet the mission.

The Cold War Starts

This is book two in the new series entitled Clandestine Operation Series. Captain James Cronley is back with the same characters we met in book one.

Cronley is now in charge of running the European division of the Directorate of Central intelligence, know known as the CIA. We are introduced to some new characters such as Maksymilian Ostrowski, a free Polish Air Force veteran now a displaced person. Russian triple-agent Seven-K who spied for the Abwehr Ost is also revealed in this story.

One of the things I like about Griffins’ books is that Griffin slips historical facts into the story such as the Katyn Forest massacre, Hoover’s botched attempt at Manhattan Project secrecy. I did note an error in the historical fact in that Griffin had created the USAF one year prior to its actual date of 14 September 1947.

Lots of suspense is provided with a top secret Russian agent Colonel Sergei Likbanev of the NKGB who is turned and taken to Argentina. Now the excitement builds trying to sneak his family out of Russia.

What I like about Griffin books are the mixture of fact and fiction along with mixing real people with fictional characters. Griffin also tends to insert one or more characters from prior books into the story. I wonder is the character Freddy Hessinger is a fictional portrayal of Henry Kissinger; there is a lots of similarities between the two in the story. In this series Griffin is giving us a historical look at post war Germany.

I noted this series which shadows cold war history, is revealing how history repeats itself in the headlines of today’s news. Anyone interested in historical fiction of the cold war will enjoy this book. Alexander Cendese narrated this book.

another awesome book. can't wait for the next book

loved the book. job well done. interested to see what happens next with the boy wonder