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Crafted by a British journalist, this insider story of a British MI6 agent raises many questions about the special relationship between Britain and the United States (particularly when it comes to tactics and the sharing of intelligence). The tale centers on agent Daniel Marchant (son of a man who was once the chief of MI6, but also dogged by rumors of his role as a traitor). Marchant is seeking to track down Salim Dhar after receiving a cryptic text message from Dhar. Dhar is the world's most notorious terrorist since bin Laden, but he also has a unique tie to Marchant, one that Marchant hopes to exploit if he can find the terrorist. However, along the way, Marchant is dogged by the Americans (particularly the chief of European branch of the CIA, James Spiro, and his underling operative Lakshmi Meena). In addition to playing fast and loose with the rules, Marchant's own loyalty is also under suspicion because his own father was thought to have worked for the Russians when he was alive. Marchant was able to clear his father's name, but the questions remain nonetheless. When it finally appears that the Russians have a hand in supporting Dhar, Marchant lets himself be recruited by the Russians, but this is a slippery slope. One of his father's closest friends, a Russian agent, re-emerges from the past; soon, Marchant is no longer sure of the past. Who recruited whom? Who was the double-agent: the Russian or his father? Marchant must take a giant leap of faith, both about his father and in his attempt to turn Dhar into an agent of the UK. While most of the thriller (particularly the interaction among the spy agencies) is strong, it is just at the novel's most critical point that it lessens in strength. The final scenes of the novel stretch the imagination a bit too far, losing the reader just at its finale. Prior to that point, the book is strong, taking readers deep inside the minds of spies and their games. The questions of loyalty and partnership are also fascinating. There is much to recommend the novel if one can overlook its dubious ending, although that is a big "if." What author Jon Stock does well is give his characters plenty of real emotion, sustainable logic to guide their actions, and enough grit and insider realism to make a convincing case for his spies. Readers will experience the heightened tension as plans go wrong or the bad guys begin to take the upper hand. There will also be some soul-searching for American readers about issues such as rendition and torture. There are plenty of accolades that can be showered on the author along the way. Ultimately, however, the book remains flawed, and readers must determine if they are willing to take a chance on a book with a less-than-satisfying ending. § Christine Zibas is a freelance writer and former director of publications for a Chicago nonprofit.
Reviewed by Christine Zibas, April 2012
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