THE GHOST WAR
Alex Berenson
Putnam Adult
Thriller
ISBN: 9780399154539

In THE GHOST WAR --- the follow-up novel to the Edgar Award-winning THE FAITHFUL SPY --- New York Times reporter Alex Berenson resurrects CIA agent John Wells and ratchets up the suspense. This is a well-crafted thriller with engaging characters and a frightening scenario about events that bring two superpowers to the brink of war.

Wells is back from death’s door after saving the United States from a murderous terrorist attack in New York City. He is now living in Washington, D.C. with his girlfriend and handler, Jennifer Exley, while awaiting his next mission. He has healed physically, but his mental state is not so stable. During frequent bouts of insomnia he hops on his Honda and drives at breakneck speed, taking dangerous risks that make some higher-ups within the CIA question his judgment --- and his sanity.

Years ago, while in Afghanistan and under deep cover for the CIA, Wells converted to Islam. His newfound faith brings him spiritual comfort, and he doesn’t hide his admiration for the strength and hospitality of the Afghan people. Wells is the only American ever to infiltrate al-Qaeda, but his conversion to Islam has caused some within the CIA to distrust him and question his loyalty.

After the CIA receives reports that the Taliban’s tactics in Afghanistan are becoming more effective and their communications networks and command-and-control structure have become increasingly sophisticated, Wells is the only asset with the insight and skills to spearhead the covert operation. What he discovers is chilling.

In another part of the world, the CIA makes a bold attempt to extract a scientist who has intimate knowledge of North Korea’s nuclear program. The mole, whose code name is “The Drafter,” has provided critical intelligence information to the United States government about North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and has become the CIA’s most important asset inside the rogue state. But after the North Koreans discover the mole’s identity, the CIA finds evidence of a mole within their own ranks. It becomes increasingly apparent that the traitor within the CIA has almost total access to intelligence in the East Asian Operations. Disclosure of this highly classified information will lead to disastrous --- and deadly --- consequences.

Meanwhile, tenuous relations between the United States and China take a turn for the worse. Someone at the highest level within the Chinese Communist Party is pushing for the country to ally itself with the nuclear ambitions of Iraq. Complicating matters, the fallout from international public opinion after the United States is provoked into a naval confrontation by the Chinese brings the two superpowers to the brink of war. With limited human intelligence operatives on the ground in China, Wells is once again given a mission to travel to another dangerous spot. This time he must obtain firsthand information from a Chinese official with access to the highest level of intelligence about what is going on within the secretive Chinese society.

THE GHOST WAR is a novel about a war that, thankfully, has not happened. It is also a story of ambition, betrayal, sacrifice, redemption and the remarkable power of faith to transform --- and save --- lives. With this timely and compelling sequel, Berenson has exceeded the promise of his acclaimed debut and the expectations of his readers, who already are eagerly awaiting his next book.

    --- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt (dvolkenannt@charter.net)

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