Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Ber
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
G.P. Putnam's Sons (2009), Edition: Reprint, 576 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:Another thrilling adventure featuring John Wells, the deep cover CIA operative from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Faithful Spy and The Deceivers. John Wells barely survived his homecoming when it was thought he�??d become too close to the terrorists. Though his wounds have healed, his mind is far from clear. He needs to get back in the fight. And there is a fight waiting for him. A power play in China is causing chaos around the globe. And even as Wells does what he does best, a mole within the CIA is preparing to light the final fuse that will propel an unsuspecting world toward open war and annihilation. And this time, there may be nothing John Wells can do to stop it… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member thejazzmonger
Second in the series about John Wells, a rebellious CIA agent. This is a rollicking story of international intrigue, global power-politics and a world brought to the brink of nuclear war. Wells is a complex character and a highly capable operative. Good story. Even minor characters are
One common flaw of political adventure novels is a tendency to labored plot-devices to complete the story line. Berenson never seems to resort to this. His stories are well-plotted and everything that he makes happen COULD happen.
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"fleshed-out" and the story holds up all the way through.One common flaw of political adventure novels is a tendency to labored plot-devices to complete the story line. Berenson never seems to resort to this. His stories are well-plotted and everything that he makes happen COULD happen.
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LibraryThing member marilynr
Read everything of Berenson-you won't sleep until you put it down!
LibraryThing member Clif
This book is a geo-political adventure thriller novel with the basic required contents; (1) tough guy, (2) attractive woman, (3) danger and violence, (4) threat of more danger and violence, and (5) international intrigue tuned into current events. Also, any of the characters in the book may be
I got this book by accident. I put a hold on the audio version of it from the library thinking I was getting the book Ghost Wars, which is a non-fiction book. The audio book The Ghost War was available several months later, and when I pick it up I was a bit puzzled over why I had requested it. With the passing of time I had forgotten what book I had intended to get. So I listened to it thinking I'd eventually remember the reason for getting it. Now that I am finished with the book I've figured out that it was a mistake. Oh well, my bookshelf needs some variety.
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wiped out at any moment, except for that tough guy and his attractive woman. The plot is based upon the premise that the People's Republic of China wants respect for its military power that is commensurate with its rising economic power. The plot involves China and the USA playing brinksmanship with the threat of war. I don't think I'm giving too much away to say that war is avoided in the end. I found it interesting to note that near the end one of China's leaders says war with America isn't needed because China will obviously prevail in the end without war. The writing is a direct (not subtle or nuanced) telling of the story which makes it an easy read.I got this book by accident. I put a hold on the audio version of it from the library thinking I was getting the book Ghost Wars, which is a non-fiction book. The audio book The Ghost War was available several months later, and when I pick it up I was a bit puzzled over why I had requested it. With the passing of time I had forgotten what book I had intended to get. So I listened to it thinking I'd eventually remember the reason for getting it. Now that I am finished with the book I've figured out that it was a mistake. Oh well, my bookshelf needs some variety.
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LibraryThing member BudBarclay
Alex Berenson is a new star in espionage fiction. This is a good sequel to The Faithful Spy. The ending is a bit fantastic, but I do like how it sets up a future episode. The book seems to be well researched, and his character development will improve.
LibraryThing member Jarratt
“The Ghost War” was better than Alex Berenson’s first John Wells book “The Faithful Spy,” which is quite a compliment. About the only issue I had with the first book was that it drug a bit in the middle once Wells returned from Afghanistan. “The Ghost War” had little in the way of
This one sees Wells return to Afghanistan to help take out some Taliban forces who are operating at clearly a more professional level. Meanwhile, we also see Li Ping, the Chinese defense minister, plotting a way to force America into submission. There are unseen connections at work and Wells must get to the bottom of it before both countries go to war.
My only disagreement with this book is not a unique one—Wells’ “super human” ability to overcome some brutal physical activities. But then, that’s what heros do, no?
I would encourage interested readers to start with “The Faithful Spy” although it’s not mandatory. But since it’s so good, you’ll be glad you did. Now let’s see if Berenson can make it three in a row with “The Silent Man.”
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back story on Wells’ family issues, so it was more consistently fast-paced.This one sees Wells return to Afghanistan to help take out some Taliban forces who are operating at clearly a more professional level. Meanwhile, we also see Li Ping, the Chinese defense minister, plotting a way to force America into submission. There are unseen connections at work and Wells must get to the bottom of it before both countries go to war.
My only disagreement with this book is not a unique one—Wells’ “super human” ability to overcome some brutal physical activities. But then, that’s what heros do, no?
I would encourage interested readers to start with “The Faithful Spy” although it’s not mandatory. But since it’s so good, you’ll be glad you did. Now let’s see if Berenson can make it three in a row with “The Silent Man.”
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LibraryThing member dekan
This is the next book in the john wells series. as per my past reviews on this author he's relativly new but i loved the two novels i've read and was hoping he would continue. He has. I really like his writting style and he may soon become my second favorite writer. it is also on a china twist that
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isn't touched on very often at all and was refreshing to me. heres to looking for the next one. i did see he's written a non-fiction book called number, i'll have to look into that. i guess to tie this up i'll just say that i quite like the wells character and so far he's stayed pretty much in character. that's getting to be a rarer trait too. Show Less
LibraryThing member MSWallack
I enjoyed this book more than the first entry in the series, though the extended sequence in Afghanistan never really felt like it fit into this story (though it does become more meaningful later).
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
The Ghost War features CIA agent John Wells, who much like Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp character, is the kind of agent that doesn't play nicely with others, but does manage to get things done when others can't. The novel starts off with a sequence of events that are seemingly unrelated. First is the
The action in this novel is very strong. There is a good deal of political intrigue, back door deals, and treachery. Wells has to go off the books to get things done. Although he kills when he has to, it's not something he takes lightly and haunts him afterward. Wells comes off as a believable character, as well as many of the villainous characters, who come off as more human than most bad guy characters. The novel finishes in a fiery conclusion that is satisfying.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
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killing of a North Korean scientist who is a mole for the US, along with a top CIA agent, a secret deal between a Chinese general and the Iranians, a double agent in the CIA feeding the Chinese sensitive information, and the training of Taliban fighters by Russians. Wells gets in the middle of the action trying to uncover the plot. He starts off the story reckless and nearly suicidal after foiling an al-Qaeda plot in Times Square, and needs to get back into the action. Focusing his energy against terrorists is a means of survival for him.The action in this novel is very strong. There is a good deal of political intrigue, back door deals, and treachery. Wells has to go off the books to get things done. Although he kills when he has to, it's not something he takes lightly and haunts him afterward. Wells comes off as a believable character, as well as many of the villainous characters, who come off as more human than most bad guy characters. The novel finishes in a fiery conclusion that is satisfying.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
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LibraryThing member yonitdm
Very gritty but a gripping storyline.
LibraryThing member yonitdm
Very gritty but a gripping storyline.
LibraryThing member AnnieMod
I am always worried when I pick up the second novels of authors - especially when I really liked the first one as was the case with Berenson. John Wells, the man that spent years under cover with the Taliban in Afghanistan, did not sound like the kind of CIA agent that will be very useful outside
Berenson made me forget all of those concerns pretty quickly. He weaved a story that connected an arms dealer, a Chinese Mao-wannabe, Iran, the Taliban and North Korea. If it all sounds too familiar, remember that it was written in 2008 - when things were not so different but they were a lot calmer. It is a classical spy novel, full of misdirection and surprises that never stop - the world peace in in jeopardy and CIA's rag team is doing their best as always - not always using the legal means (but managing to pull off a very expensive rescue mission).
It is a violent book - even more violent than the first one. And in addition to all the beating Wells took, he managed to add one more enemy to the list of people that really want to kill him. Considering the the one from the first one was Osama bin Laden, this one sounds like the smaller problem - but based on geography and abilities, I have a suspicion that this will be the main feature somewhere later in the series.
This series may not be high literature but they are great at what they are - spy novels with enough thriller thrown into them to almost move them away from the genre.
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of that storyline. And writing the same novel multiple times (the way Dan Brown does) is not so easy to pull off. Berenson made me forget all of those concerns pretty quickly. He weaved a story that connected an arms dealer, a Chinese Mao-wannabe, Iran, the Taliban and North Korea. If it all sounds too familiar, remember that it was written in 2008 - when things were not so different but they were a lot calmer. It is a classical spy novel, full of misdirection and surprises that never stop - the world peace in in jeopardy and CIA's rag team is doing their best as always - not always using the legal means (but managing to pull off a very expensive rescue mission).
It is a violent book - even more violent than the first one. And in addition to all the beating Wells took, he managed to add one more enemy to the list of people that really want to kill him. Considering the the one from the first one was Osama bin Laden, this one sounds like the smaller problem - but based on geography and abilities, I have a suspicion that this will be the main feature somewhere later in the series.
This series may not be high literature but they are great at what they are - spy novels with enough thriller thrown into them to almost move them away from the genre.
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Pages
576