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Damascus Station: A Novel
Damascus Station: A Novel | David McCloskey
2 posts | 2 read | 1 to read
"Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." —General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA 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 in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). 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.
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Mpcacher
Damascus Station: A Novel | David McCloskey
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Pickpick

This is a CIA spy thriller set in Syria, in the early days of the ongoing civil war. It is riveting, very detailed, cleverly plotted and very violent with several torture scenes. There is also a romance element that reminded me of “Red Sparrow“. In spite of the violence, I really enjoyed the book, and it had me Googling Syria to learn more. While certainly a different type of escapism reading than a rom-com, it worked for me. 4.25/5 stars

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Decalino
Damascus Station: A Novel | David McCloskey
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Mehso-so

I suspect this book features very accurate and realistic depictions of CIA spycraft, acronyms, etc. and the setting in Syria felt very detailed and real. The characters, on the other hand, were mostly two-dimensional or even cartoonish. If you are reading strictly for spy stuff, a Syrian setting, or just plot, this book is worth it. If you are particularly sensitive to cliches and occasional clunk, skip it and read Alma Katsu's Red Widow instead.