Synopses & Reviews
Berensons strength is his deep understanding of geopolitics and of the shoddy compromises it demands. He clearly has excellent contacts in the world of shadows. Wells is a complex and satisfying protagonist, tackling bad guys across the worlds conflict zones.”--The New York Times Book Review
John Wells goes undercover as the threat of nuclear war skyrockets between the United States and Iran, in the cutting-edge new novel from the #1 New York Timesbestselling author.
In an Istanbul hotel, a deep source warns a CIA agent that Iran intends to kill a CIA station chief. Quickly, John Wells is called in to investigate, but before he can get far, the tip comes true. Which means that the next warning the source gives will be taken very seriously indeed. And its a big one. Weve put a package on a ship from Dubai to the United States. A radioactive one. A bomb? Not yet. Its a test run.
As the threat level jumps and the government mobilizes, something still doesnt smell right to Wellss old CIA boss Ellis Shafer, and so he sends Wells on a private mission to find out whats going on. But the two of them are swimming against the tide. From Guatemala to Thailand to Hong Kong to Istanbul, Wells uses every skill he has, including his ability to go undercover in the Arab world, to chase down leads. But it might not be enough. Soon there might be nothing anyone can do to pull the United States back from the brink of war.
Review
Praise for
The Midnight House "Berenson's best thriller yet, this outstanding novel stands on the top rung of commercial spy fiction."
-Library Journal
"A rare thriller that combines intelligence and humanity."
-Smart Money
Review
Praise for The Night Ranger
“A real stunner. Excellent writing, intriguing subplots, and a sure knowledge of the locales culture and history make Berensons books a class unto themselves. Dont miss this one.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
“John Wells continues to be one of the most interesting, entertaining, and compelling heroes of the genre. The Night Ranger shows Berenson at the top of his game.” —Charleston Post and Courier
“Berensons strength is his deep understanding of geopolitics and the shoddy compromises it demands. He clearly has excellent contacts in the world of shadows.” —The New York Times Book Review
Review
“Positively raging with Tarantino-style carnage.”—
The New York Times “Wells is a fine character who will likely propel Berensons thrillers to success for some time to come.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“Top-flight…The authenticity Berenson brings to his ripped-from-the-headlines stories makes them seem as vividly real and scary as nonfiction or the nightly news.”—Booklist
“Wells is a refreshing thriller hero, sort of the anti-Jack Bauer.”—The Houston Chronicle
Review
Praise for Twelve Days
“Berenson is a master at building tension, with a ticking clock that's built into the title—America's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities is only 12 days away. This well-written and fast-moving novel delivers more than a good plot. It illustrates how in the midst of regional chaos, a great power can jump to calamitous conclusions. This one is well worth the thriller enthusiast's time....” —Kirkus Review
Praise for The Counterfeit Agent
“The Counterfeit Agent is as topical as any of Berensons books and, with its sharp details and knowingness, gives you the distinct impression that the author has talked to more than enough people to know of what he speaks... The plot is every bit the thrill ride it sounds like, [and then] there is Wells. He is, necessarily, a dashing, hard-to-defeat fellow. But he is deeply human, frustrated as often by love and his own personal demons as by the villains around him. He is a morally complex protagonist, an entertaining guy to hang out with. He alone makes The Counterfeit Agent worth the read.”—Associated Press
“Whatever real-world geopolitical threat you're following, chances are the fictional John Wells has already handled it in his ripped-from-the-headlines adventures.”—NPR books
“With each [book] Alex Berensons idiosyncratic invention, John Wells, a US secret-ops agent and convert to Islam, finds himself getting older and fighting harder for higher stakes in a novel that earns your attention and delivers an intriguing catch at the end . . . [Berensons] clean, clear prose and solid grasp of global geopolitics make for compelling, believable scenes and chapters.”—The Boston Globe
“[A] volcanic shocker . . . Working with plot elements that are terrifyingly realistic, research that rings as true as todays headlines, and characters that brim with integrity and swagger, Berenson puts John Wells right up there with the best of espionage fictions greatest heroes.”—Library Journal
“Berenson ratchets the tension ever higher, combining plenty of vividly detailed bloodletting with a fascinating look at geopolitics and the self-serving quagmire of governmental bureaucracy. Wells stands outside all that, a Rambo with a brain who cant resist the call to action. The clock is ticking loudly this time, though, and fans will have to wait until the next book to see if Wells saves the world one more time.”—Booklist
Review
Praise for The Counterfeit Agent
“The Counterfeit Agent is as topical as any of Berensons books and, with its sharp details and knowingness, gives you the distinct impression that the author has talked to more than enough people to know of what he speaks... The plot is every bit the thrill ride it sounds like, [and then] there is Wells. He is, necessarily, a dashing, hard-to-defeat fellow. But he is deeply human, frustrated as often by love and his own personal demons as by the villains around him. He is a morally complex protagonist, an entertaining guy to hang out with. He alone makes The Counterfeit Agent worth the read.”—Associated Press
“Whatever real-world geopolitical threat you're following, chances are the fictional John Wells has already handled it in his ripped-from-the-headlines adventures.”—NPR books
“With each [book] Alex Berensons idiosyncratic invention, John Wells, a US secret-ops agent and convert to Islam, finds himself getting older and fighting harder for higher stakes in a novel that earns your attention and delivers an intriguing catch at the end . . . [Berensons] clean, clear prose and solid grasp of global geopolitics make for compelling, believable scenes and chapters.”—The Boston Globe
“From the opening gambit in Istanbul to the fetid streets of Thailand and the Philippines, Guatemala and Panama, the pace never lets up. Moreover, the characters weve come to expect in Berensons stories — Ellis Shafer, Wells wisecracking old boss, and Vinny Duto, the opportunistic ex-CIA director turned U.S. senator — are on hand and in especially fine form. The author excels at limning the shadowy world of international espionage, and his feel for the locales in which Wells operates is top-notch. This is an intelligent thriller of the first order, an exciting, satisfying and rewarding read.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“A geo-political thriller that is action packed, mimics the real world, and is full of surprises.”—Crimespree Magazine
“[A] volcanic shocker . . . Working with plot elements that are terrifyingly realistic, research that rings as true as todays headlines, and characters that brim with integrity and swagger, Berenson puts John Wells right up there with the best of espionage fictions greatest heroes.”—Library Journal
“Berenson ratchets the tension ever higher, combining plenty of vividly detailed bloodletting with a fascinating look at geopolitics and the self-serving quagmire of governmental bureaucracy. Wells stands outside all that, a Rambo with a brain who cant resist the call to action. The clock is ticking loudly this time, though, and fans will have to wait until the next book to see if Wells saves the world one more time.”—Booklist
“Berenson sets this series apart by doing his homework. The locations are meticulously researched and exceptionally well-realized. Berenson also clearly knows his spycraft, and his knowledge of the inner workings at Langley adds an additional layer of detail . . . Another well-crafted entry in Berenson's excellent John Wells series.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Action-packed . . . Thriller fans will eagerly await the return of the estimable Wells.”—Publishers Weekly
Praise for The Night Ranger
“[A] taut thriller offers plenty of twists and turns, told in the bestselling author's fast-paced style.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"A tense thriller that relies equally on bravery, wit, and 21st-century American firepower . . . Berenson gives readers top-notch, fast-paced excitement in a part of the world unfamiliar to many Americans. John Wells is a worthy hero readers can count on."—Kirkus Reviews
"The chaos of East Africa and the complex realities of relief efforts in that region form the backdrop for Edgar-winner Berenson's gripping seventh thriller . . . Taut prose, plausible action, and plenty of plot surprises ensure another winner for this perennial bestseller."—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
John Wells goes undercover in Saudi Arabia in a cutting-edge novel of modern suspense from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author. John Wells may have left the CIA, but it hasn't left him. A mysterious call brings a surprise meeting with the aged monarch of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah. "My kingdom is on a precipice," he tells Wells. "Powerful factions are plotting against me, and my own family is in danger. I don't know who I can trust, but I'm told I can trust you."
Reluctantly, and with the secret blessing of the CIA, Wells goes undercover; but the more he learns, the more complicated things become, and soon he, too, is unsure whom to trust, in Saudi Arabia or Washington. One thing, however, is clear: If the conspirators prevail, it will mean more than the fall of a monarch-it may be the beginning of the final conflagration between America and Islam.
Synopsis
John Wells may have left the CIA, but he hasnt left the high-stakes world of espionage, where hidden battles determine the fate of nations.
In Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah is losing his hold. A series of terrorist attacks has put the Kingdom on edge, and even Abdullahs own secret police cannot be trusted. With nowhere to turn, the King asks for Wellss help.
Reluctantly, and with the secret blessing of his former CIA boss, Wells agrees. But as he begins to unravel the conspiracy, it takes an unexpected twist, becoming more dangerous than Wells ever imagined. The plotters want more than the fall of a monarch. They want to start the final battle between America and Islamwith only themselves as the victor
Synopsis
Unabridged, 9 CDs, 11 hours Read by George Guidall
John Wells goes undercover in Saudi Arabia in a cutting-edge novel of modern suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Synopsis
John Wells has only twelve days to stop the United States from being tricked into invading Iran in the new cutting-edge novel of modern suspense from the #1 New York Timesbestselling author.
Twelve days.
Wells, with his former CIA bosses Ellis Shafer and Vinnie Duto, has uncovered a staggering plot, a false-flag operation to convince the President to attack Iran. But they have no hard evidence, and no one at Langley or the White House will listen.
Now the President has set a deadline for Iran to give up its nuclear program, and the mullahs in Tehranfurious and frightenedhave responded with a deadly terrorist attack. Wells, Shafer, and Duto know they have only twelve days to find the proof they need. They fan out, from Switzerland to Saudi Arabia, Israel to Russia, desperately trying to tease out the clues in their possession. Meanwhile, the United States is moving soldiers and Marines to Irans border. And Iran has mobilized its own squad of suicide bombers.
And as the days tick by and the obstacles mount, they realize that everything they do may not be enough
Synopsis
John Wells goes undercover as the threat of nuclear war skyrockets between the United States and Iran, in the cutting-edge new novel from the #1 New York Timesbestselling author.
In an Istanbul hotel, a deep source warns a CIA agent that Iran intends to kill a CIA station chief. Quickly, John Wells is called in to investigate, but before he can get far, the tip comes true. Which means that the next warning the source gives will be taken very seriously indeed. And its a big one. Weve put a package on a ship from Dubai to the United States. A radioactive one. A bomb? Not yet. Its a test run.
As the threat level jumps and the government mobilizes, something still doesnt smell right to Wellss old CIA boss Ellis Shafer, and so he sends Wells on a private mission to find out whats going on. But the two of them are swimming against the tide. From Guatemala to Thailand to Hong Kong to Istanbul, Wells uses every skill he has, including his ability to go undercover in the Arab world, to chase down leads. But it might not be enough. Soon there might be nothing anyone can do to pull the United States back from the brink of war.
About the Author
As a reporter for The New York Times, Alex Berenson has covered topics ranging from the occupation of Iraq to the flooding of New Orleans to the financial crimes of Bernie Madoff. His previous novels include The Faithful Spy, winner of a 2007 Edgar® Award, The Ghost War, The Silent Man, The Midnight House, and The Counterfeit Agent. He lives in New York City.