Damascus Station - David McCloskey

Damascus Station

By David McCloskey

  • Release Date: 2021-10-05
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Score: 4
4
From 1,020 Ratings

Description

A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft…you will find in print." (New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr).

"Damascus Station is simply marvelous storytelling.…[A] stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre." —Financial Times

Finalist for the 2022 ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel

CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad’s recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy.

But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad’s spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Reviews

  • Disappointment

    2
    By billy click
    I read to the point where the protagonist, a CIA agent,goes to bed with his “asset,” something worthy of getting the protagonist fired along with a botched attempt at information gathering. Having dealt with such situations in real life, I was in no mood to read about its glamorization. I will delete the book from my library.
  • Superb

    5
    By Paleo Schnauzer
    One of the best I’ve read in a while. No twist and turns just pure excitement. And finally a book not in first person present. I despise that.
  • Almost unreadable

    2
    By dominolouis
    The author does not appear to know English as a first or second language. The editing is virtually nonexistent.
  • As good as any I. The Genre

    5
    By M-Tooth
    Pleasantly surprised how fast and riveting this was. Great building of the characters and plot. Already anticipating the next book!
  • Good read

    5
    By Wycada
    One of the best books I’ve read in years.
  • Great storytelling

    5
    By Jerrman
    Very engrossing, great detail and seemingly a realistic portrayal of what goes on in spy circles. Some may find the details near the end a bit too violently descriptive but, it all fits within the genre. A really good read.
  • Solid choice

    5
    By MK19D
    One of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in awhile. Very well-written, I highly recommend.
  • Au courant Espionage by way of Assad’s Syria

    5
    By JP of GR
    668 pages of well written detail. Set in today’s Syria, France, D.C., and Italy. Strong characters (females in particular). Moral dilemmas involving personal relationships, chemical weapons, and one’s career choices. Torture, firearms, alcohol (foreign & domestic), soft hetero sex. Martial arts expertly executed by the female protagonist. Can’t complain.
  • Damascus Station

    5
    By Shepjap
    Outstanding read. Most realistic spy story I’ve read.
  • Maybe the best spy book I’ve ever read

    5
    By TigersJC86
    This book was phenomenal and felt like a true spy book. There’s no superhero’s, going ho vigilantes just smart educated people playing chess to come out on top or alive. I can’t wait for book 2