Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
New York : Random House, c2006.
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:�??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 readers 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 b… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member kathleen129
An interesting idea, written badly.
LibraryThing member revslick
If you're looking for a fast paced, action packed novel that reads like an even faster paced movie, then this is it. My only critique is the situation it presents is far more insidious and scary than any horror novel I usually read.
LibraryThing member bardsfingertips
It's a good book, not a bad story at all. It never tried to be any sort of literature; it simply delivered its original intent: to tell a story.
It is a very fast and entertaining read.
It is a very fast and entertaining read.
LibraryThing member laxhslr9599
After reading this book cover to cover, it really is something that you cannot put down. The faithful spy features John Wells an american spy who is the only one who ever managed to breach into Al Qaeda's layer and get close to Osama Bin Laden. With new terrorist threats occuring throughout the
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country, it is up to wells to sort through all the lies and deceptions in order to stop another 9/11 styled attack from occuring. Show Less
LibraryThing member ZachMontana
Enjoyable thriller, but drags at points with only average writing skill. A thriller that is not so compelling that you can't put it down, but interesting enough you want to finish it.
LibraryThing member TadAD
A fairly straight-forward thriller and I'd recommend it as such. If you're not a thriller fan, then there's probably not a lot here for you.
LibraryThing member debs4jc
John Wells is an American agent who infiltrated Al Qaeda--but he didn't warn the agency about 9/11 and he hasn't been heard from in years. So when he resurfaces the agency is distrustful of him--except for his handler, a woman who may have deeper feelings for him than just business. Can Wells
This was a great thrill ride, and had a very contomporary feel as it dealt with our current threats from terrorism (which might make it a bit too scary for some!) The ending was somewhat predictable, but it was fun seeing how the good guy got there.
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redeem himself and prove his loyalty by stopping the next big attack? Will he be able to survive, and will he be able to live with himself if he does?This was a great thrill ride, and had a very contomporary feel as it dealt with our current threats from terrorism (which might make it a bit too scary for some!) The ending was somewhat predictable, but it was fun seeing how the good guy got there.
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LibraryThing member irishwasherwoman
This is the second novel that I’ve read about post-9/11. The first was a personal story of 9/11 survivors (A Disorder Peculiar to the Country by Ken Kalfus). This is the story of the nitty-gritty of terrorism and is very unsettling. It is easy to understand how what was planned could actually
One thing that did strike me throughout the novel is the repetition of the word “nam.” While it means “yes” in Arabic, with the frequency with which it is used, I could only wonder if Berenson had a message he wished to convey in using this Arabic word to evoke memories of another armed conflict in which the U.S. was involved... rather unsuccessfully.
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come about. There is a fair amount of graphic violence to get through, including a questionable amount of torture by U.S. government agents. The author is a reporter who has spent some time in the Middle East and obviously pays close attention to what goes on there, making the story seem that much more plausible. One thing that did strike me throughout the novel is the repetition of the word “nam.” While it means “yes” in Arabic, with the frequency with which it is used, I could only wonder if Berenson had a message he wished to convey in using this Arabic word to evoke memories of another armed conflict in which the U.S. was involved... rather unsuccessfully.
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LibraryThing member Darrol
Very well written, exciting book. Just not my favorite genre.
LibraryThing member dspoon
Years ago, John Wells was an all-American boy from Montana. Now, he is roaming the mountains of Pakistan as a member of al Qaeda.
After a decade away from home, he despises the United States for its decadence. He hates America's shallow, mindless culture of vice and violence. He is devout Muslim.
He is a CIA operative. And he is coming home.
After a decade away from home, he despises the United States for its decadence. He hates America's shallow, mindless culture of vice and violence. He is devout Muslim.
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He is a brave warrior for Allah. He is a CIA operative. And he is coming home.
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LibraryThing member MSWallack
In The Faithful Spy Alex Berenson tried to present both a traditional thriller and a psychological drama examining the mental state and motivations of a deep cover agent. As a thriller, the book succeeded. While the broad outlines of the plot were fairly standard, the execution of the storyline
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and, in particular, the use of the deep cover agent, were refreshing. I particularly enjoyed seeing the efforts that Al Qaeda went through to check whether its agents had been compromised. However, the personal story was somewhat less engaging. While the thoughts and motivations of the protagonist were interesting, I can't help but feel as if we never really got beyond a surface understanding of the character. For example, we never truly understand why he actually converts to Islam. Perhaps if the author had been a bit more coy with how the protagonist would resolve certain internal conflicts, the story would have been more engaging. Nevertheless, I enjoyed The Faithful Spy enough to continue reading the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member markatread
The premise of the book is very plausible because it has already happened once. 9/11 showed the whole world that there were sleeper cells inside the US and they were willing to drive planes into the side of buildings for their beliefs. The Faithful Spy's main premise is that there are more sleeper
There are several things that the author Alex Berenson does right in the Faithful Spy. He was journalist for the New York Times and that style of writing is very effective when he is writing the action scenes. The descriptions are very believable and tight. the suspence is palatble. That cryptic, fact based style is also effective in the slower "watiing" portions of the book. But the author is out of his element when it comes time to describe emotional episodes, especially between John Wells and the women in the book.
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cells just as dedicated as the ones that planned and executed 9/11. The Faithful Spy adds a hero to that mix and says that there has been a CIA agent that has been deep undercover inside al Qaeda and that he has been there since before 9/11. And now al Qaeda is now ready to strike again inside the U. S. so they send John Wells home to be a part of the "next big" attack.There are several things that the author Alex Berenson does right in the Faithful Spy. He was journalist for the New York Times and that style of writing is very effective when he is writing the action scenes. The descriptions are very believable and tight. the suspence is palatble. That cryptic, fact based style is also effective in the slower "watiing" portions of the book. But the author is out of his element when it comes time to describe emotional episodes, especially between John Wells and the women in the book.
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LibraryThing member yaakov
Great read for anyone who enjoys contemporary spy novels. Set in Afghanistan and the United States, the plot follows a American spy with al qaeda who has converted to Islam. This is a book you can't put down. It reminds me of early books by Ludlum.
LibraryThing member readingwithtea
I have a weakness for spy thrillers, but most of the ones I have read have either been FBI/CIA/NSA within the USA (usually by David Baldacci, for whose plots I express unreserved awe mixed with amusement) or secret international sect protected by naughty governments around the world is exposed by
This one was a little different – following a CIA sleeper agent inside Al-Qaeda. One of the reasons I really enjoyed this was that Berenson considered the alienation and solitude of such a man quite carefully – remaining undercover for 8 years in such a hostile environment, and then the culture shock of returning to the USA after so long among fundamentalist and militant Islam.
There was also a heavy focus on the Islamic motivations behind Al-Qaeda, and the characters of a few of the “bad guys” were quite thoroughly developed.
Of course we had the stock physical attributes – stocky, attractive and slightly exotic male spy, leggy blonde promiscuous sidekick with a past, uptight jobsworth bureaucrat with too much power… so that was a bit disappointing.
Definitely worth it for spy thriller lovers – much better than most of the usual fare!
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brainiac with sidekick (Dan Brown and his copycats).This one was a little different – following a CIA sleeper agent inside Al-Qaeda. One of the reasons I really enjoyed this was that Berenson considered the alienation and solitude of such a man quite carefully – remaining undercover for 8 years in such a hostile environment, and then the culture shock of returning to the USA after so long among fundamentalist and militant Islam.
There was also a heavy focus on the Islamic motivations behind Al-Qaeda, and the characters of a few of the “bad guys” were quite thoroughly developed.
Of course we had the stock physical attributes – stocky, attractive and slightly exotic male spy, leggy blonde promiscuous sidekick with a past, uptight jobsworth bureaucrat with too much power… so that was a bit disappointing.
Definitely worth it for spy thriller lovers – much better than most of the usual fare!
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LibraryThing member Jarratt
A vast majority of Alex Berenson’s “The Faithful Spy” was fast-paced and fantastic. If you’re a fan of Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, you should enjoy Berenson’s John Wells.
It takes us into the life of super undercover CIA spy John Wells who for years has lived in Afghanistan, working his
Around 1/3 into the book, Wells is asked by members of Al- Qaeda to return to the US and carry out a mission. While the prospect was exciting for the reader, what follows was rather slow. We see John return to his hometown, attempt to reconnect with his ex-wife and son, etc. This drags quite heavily. I like character development just fine, but let’s keep the story moving too. Berenson may have spent an inordinate amount of time on this because Wells is a recurring character.
The other part that drags somewhat is the time Wells is waiting to be contacted by Al- Qaeda. He spends time as a day laborer in the Atlanta area and it takes a bit of time to get through that. But once those two slow spots are over, the novel kicks into high gear again.
I’m looking forward to reading the continuing story of Wells.
It takes us into the life of super undercover CIA spy John Wells who for years has lived in Afghanistan, working his
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way into Al-Qaeda, and swearing his allegiance against the United States. Wells has abandoned his family, friends, and way of life to try and stop the next 9/11. All he has is the mission. As time wears on, many in the CIA think he’s actually gone over to the other side for good. Along the way, we learn of his affection for his CIA handler Jennifer Exley and his apprehension as to whether or not she believes he’s still working for the good guys.Around 1/3 into the book, Wells is asked by members of Al- Qaeda to return to the US and carry out a mission. While the prospect was exciting for the reader, what follows was rather slow. We see John return to his hometown, attempt to reconnect with his ex-wife and son, etc. This drags quite heavily. I like character development just fine, but let’s keep the story moving too. Berenson may have spent an inordinate amount of time on this because Wells is a recurring character.
The other part that drags somewhat is the time Wells is waiting to be contacted by Al- Qaeda. He spends time as a day laborer in the Atlanta area and it takes a bit of time to get through that. But once those two slow spots are over, the novel kicks into high gear again.
I’m looking forward to reading the continuing story of Wells.
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LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
Not a bad spy thriller & certainly relevant today. One thing the story shows quite clearly is how bureaucrats with their CYA mentality have a lot of trouble with the terrorist threat. Nothing is ever certain & chances have to be taken.
There's a good, balanced view of religion throughout the book.
There's a good, balanced view of religion throughout the book.
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Prejudices are shown from both sides. Show Less
LibraryThing member mikedraper
John Wells is a CIA agent and the first man to penetrate al Qaeda.
He is able to save the lives of Americans in the field while maintaining his cover but he's called in by bin Laden's deputy who tells him that he will be sent to American on a terrorist mission.
When he returns home, some CIA members
In the meanwhile, terrorist activity increases in the US and John and his handler try to determine where the next target is so they can stop it.
John Wells is a well developed character. He follows his beliefs and in the world after 9-11 he wants to stop other terrorist activity in the U.S.
John Wells is also an original character and the story is packed with suspense and nonstop action.
He is able to save the lives of Americans in the field while maintaining his cover but he's called in by bin Laden's deputy who tells him that he will be sent to American on a terrorist mission.
When he returns home, some CIA members
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are grateful for his years undercover but one official, when he learns John has converted to Islam, wonders if he's gone to the other side.In the meanwhile, terrorist activity increases in the US and John and his handler try to determine where the next target is so they can stop it.
John Wells is a well developed character. He follows his beliefs and in the world after 9-11 he wants to stop other terrorist activity in the U.S.
John Wells is also an original character and the story is packed with suspense and nonstop action.
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LibraryThing member scottcholstad
The Faithful Spy was a very exciting book to read. I like spy/thriller novels, although I actually don't read that many of them, and this was among the best I have read.
John Wells is a CIA agent who has successfully penetrated al Qaeda. He's been with them for years, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Wells comes home and goes to the CIA, where he is given a hostile greeting by the director. However, his handler, Jennifer Exley, still believes in him. He's put in a virtual prison, but escapes because he wants to stop al Qaeda from whatever it is they're plotting. What follows is an exciting series of challenges, chases, biological warfare, and confrontations, ultimately with Omar Khandri, John's al Qaeda handler.
When I read reviews of this book, I was shocked to see how many people viewed it as more of the same. They deplored the love story in the book and thought the middle part of it was boring. I couldn't view it more differently. I thought the love story was great and really enjoyed the ending. I also thought some of the "boring" parts allowed the characters to be flushed out pretty fully, so I had no problem with that. Just because Wells has to wait to be contacted by his handler doesn't mean it's boring, sorry. I thought the terrorism scenarios painted by Berenson were horrifyingly realistic and well thought out. I think he did a great job with this book, and even though it shares some similarities with Frederick Forsythe's The Afghan, it's a really good book that stands on its own. Strongly recommended.
John Wells is a CIA agent who has successfully penetrated al Qaeda. He's been with them for years, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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However, he hasn't been in touch with his CIA bosses for years and they don't even know if he's still alive or if he's still on their side. See, Wells has converted to Islam and learns to deplore America's superficiality and arrogance. That said, he makes contact with Special Forces in Afghanistan after 9/11, which he didn't foresee, and shortly after, he's plucked from his Pakistani village by al Qaeda leaders to go back home to America for a hugely important mission, one they don't fill him in on. Meanwhile, the head of al Qaeda's nuclear "program" is captured in Iraq and, through torture, fills the US in on potential plots in the US and on John Wells.Wells comes home and goes to the CIA, where he is given a hostile greeting by the director. However, his handler, Jennifer Exley, still believes in him. He's put in a virtual prison, but escapes because he wants to stop al Qaeda from whatever it is they're plotting. What follows is an exciting series of challenges, chases, biological warfare, and confrontations, ultimately with Omar Khandri, John's al Qaeda handler.
When I read reviews of this book, I was shocked to see how many people viewed it as more of the same. They deplored the love story in the book and thought the middle part of it was boring. I couldn't view it more differently. I thought the love story was great and really enjoyed the ending. I also thought some of the "boring" parts allowed the characters to be flushed out pretty fully, so I had no problem with that. Just because Wells has to wait to be contacted by his handler doesn't mean it's boring, sorry. I thought the terrorism scenarios painted by Berenson were horrifyingly realistic and well thought out. I think he did a great job with this book, and even though it shares some similarities with Frederick Forsythe's The Afghan, it's a really good book that stands on its own. Strongly recommended.
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LibraryThing member cygnet81
A fun listen while driving. Gripping and suspenseful.
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
How weird is it that I finished this book on Sept. 11... no, it wasn't timed, and, at the outset, I didn't realize the terrorist attacks would be referenced in this novel.
Anyway, it is an okay spy/thriller, but there is not very much action and there are a lot of barely fleshed characters which get
I don't think I will read more in the series... it just isn't interesting enough and comes across like a non-fiction about how terrorist cells work and how the US government is 'incompetent'... I prefer some action and some character development to go along with my lectures.
Anyway, it is an okay spy/thriller, but there is not very much action and there are a lot of barely fleshed characters which get
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confusing at some points... though, for the most part, a character is removed from the story in the same chapter he is added (yes, they are all male characters except for the sex interests for the main character).I don't think I will read more in the series... it just isn't interesting enough and comes across like a non-fiction about how terrorist cells work and how the US government is 'incompetent'... I prefer some action and some character development to go along with my lectures.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
The story of 'the faithful spy' for the CIA who has been undercover in Al-Qaida for years. Not bad but if I hadn't gotten it for free I probably wouldn't have read it.
LibraryThing member zhoud2005
great thriller!
LibraryThing member Vulco1
Really Good. It is like Homeland or Traitor (That Don Cheadle movie) before those were things. Or it's like that show Sleeper Cell.
LibraryThing member PDCRead
Excellent Thriller
LibraryThing member leslie.98
2.5*
The story of 'the faithful spy' for the CIA who has been undercover in Al-Qaida for years. Not bad but if I hadn't gotten it for free I probably wouldn't have read it.
The story of 'the faithful spy' for the CIA who has been undercover in Al-Qaida for years. Not bad but if I hadn't gotten it for free I probably wouldn't have read it.
Subjects
Awards
Edgar Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2007)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2007)
Barry Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2007)
Language
Physical description
334 p.; 25 inches
ISBN
1588365425 / 9781588365422