The Shadow Patrol (John Wells, #6)

Apr 16, 2012 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, genre-thriller, borrowed-library

*Genre* Thriller
*Rating* 3 1/2

*Review*

This, being the sixth novel in the John Wells series, comes with a lot of political correctness and questions about our continued involvement in a war that most Americans have found repugnant. After watching the news tonight about US Soldiers purchasing drugs from their Asscrakistan colleagues, this story could be considered ripped from the headlines!

There are some serious questions that need to be asked as well: Do we really want to read about American sold...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Rick Fisher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: spy-thirller

I am super stoked about this book...since John Wells first popped up in 2006 in Mr Berenson's "A Faithful Spy", I have loved every single word written...this series is undoubtedly one of the, if not the top series in the genre...John Wells ranks right up there with Gabriel Allon from Daniel Silva's novels and JacK Reacher from Lee Childs...top of my list of must reads

Another awesome novel from Mr Berenson. This one lacked the same level of pace and excitement as a few of the others, but, overal...more

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May 14, 2013 Mal Warwick rated it 4 of 5 stars

A thriller that delivers both excitement and insight about the war in Afghanistan

The cottage industry in spy thrillers encompasses a wide range of quality, from those that offer up cheap thrills with one-dimensional characters facing off in unreal circumstances to those, many fewer, that rise into the realm of literature, illuminating the human condition. The finest of the lot, such as Graham Greene and John Le Carre at their best, stand with other exemplars of modern fiction. Alex Berenson’s wr...more A thriller that delivers both excitement and insight about the war in Afghanistan

The cottage industry in spy thrillers encompasses a wide range of quality, from those that offer up cheap thrills with one-dimensional characters facing off in unreal circumstances to those, many fewer, that rise into the realm of literature, illuminating the human condition. The finest of the lot, such as Graham Greene and John Le Carre at their best, stand with other exemplars of modern fiction. Alex Berenson’s writing doesn’t quite measure up to them, but it comes close. His most recent novel about the adventures of soldier-spy John Wells, The Shadow Patrol, explores the tragic dimensions of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, from which no one leaves ennobled.

John Wells has left the CIA and his long-time love, his agency handler, Jennifer Exley, and is living in rural New Hampshire with Anne, a local cop. When his old CIA boss, Ellis Shafer, asks him to return to action in Afghanistan, where he spent so many years undercover inside Al Qaeda, Wells leaps at the chance. The agency’s Kabul station is in crisis. A Jordanian physician, having established a credible cover as an ally, has murdered the CIA’s top brass in the country by setting off a suicide vest. (Remember? This actually happened!) Now, in addition to the chaos that results when replacements for the top officials prove unequal to the task, reports have surfaced that the station has been penetrated by a Taliban mole. Wells’ assignment, to learn the identity of the mole, brings him and the CIA into conflict with the hierarchy of the Special Forces and eventually into a one-on-one test of wills with a Delta sniper who holds the key to the mole’s identity.

Returning years after his last visit to Afghanistan, Wells finds the country, the war, and the agency, all profoundly changed by the billions of U.S. dollars spread about the countryside and the years of unrelenting killing. Cynicism and greed have spread throughout the country like a virus.

When Wells checks into the CIA station in the capital, a senior officer tells him, “First off, understand the strategic situation’s a mess. We’re playing Whac-a-Mole here. First we had our guys in the east, and the south went to hell. Now we’ve moved everybody south, and the east is going to hell. And by the way, the south isn’t great either. This quote-unquote-government we’re working with, it’s beyond corrupt. Everything’s for sale. You want to be a cop? That’s a bribe. Five to ten grand, depending on the district. . . to become a patrolman. You want to be a district-level police chief? Twenty, thirty thousand. At the national level, the cabinet jobs are a quarter million and up.”

While there’s nothing in this monologue that we haven’t learned from news reports and the numerous nonfiction books about the war, this matter-of-fact informality drives home the point more clearly than any “objective” report could do. In fact, Alex Berenson was a New York Times reporter before he turned to full-time writing. As a reporter, he covered the occupation of Iraq, among other big stories, and he brings a reporter’s instinct for news and the value of obscure details to make a story come to light. In The Shadow Patrol, the intimate conversation and inner dialogue of American troops highlights the mind-numbing reality of war much more clearly than any nonfiction account could possibly do.

One of the most revealing passages in the book comes in the course of Wells’ conversation with the same CIA official who spoke of the corruption caused by the influx of U.S. dollars. Wells has asked “So how many officers do you have?”

“We’re close to full strength now. Six hundred in country.”

“Six hundred?”

“But you have to remember, only a few are case officers. More than two hundred handle security. Then we have the coms and IT guys, logistics and administrative . . . and the guys at the airfields, handling the drones. Fewer than forty ever get outside the wire to talk to the locals. Of those, most are working with Afghan security and intelligence forces. If you’re looking at guys recruiting sources on the ground, it’s maybe a dozen. . . The security situation is impossible. Only the very best officers can work outside the wire without getting popped, and even then only for short stretches.”

This is today’s CIA.

Berenson has devoted significant effort to researching the agency, the reality of the war in Afghanistan, the heroin trade, the art of the sniper, and other elements in this clever and compelling story. The Shadow Patrol is a superb contemporary thriller that delivers both an exciting tale and down-to-earth reporting on the Afghanistan war.(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 Nickitopster rated it 4 of 5 stars

Impressions of my first Berenson book

I knew nothing about this author but happened upon a paperback copy of this book and thought I’d give it a try. Overall, I like this book even though the subject matter – the Middle East conflict – is not the most pleasant of topics and might not appeal to all readers (don’t we get enough of this in the news…).

Since other reviewers have detailed the basic premise of the book, I won’t bother repeating the plot lines here except to say that it’s clear that Mr....more

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Jan 06, 2013 Bill Wilson rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book will probably be my last John Wells story for a while. Berenson is a good writer, and varies the stories as much as possible, but he is writing formula novels, and after a while, that genre inevitably catches up to you. In this way, Wells is like Gabriel Allon, Daniel Silva's creation: appealing, deserving of our support, but following a very familiar path with new villains and changing scenery. Wells is an eminently likable character and his sense of honor and doing the right thing ar...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Randy Cashner rated it 4 of 5 stars

It is always interesting to read other reviews of the same book and it is obvious that readers have a variety of opinions concerning the same books. This is very true about Berenson's Shadow Patrol. After reading Midnight House and now The Shadow Patrol, I can say that it is nice to have Johan Wells back. I don't know where Berenson will go with the Wells character but it is obvious that the Wells character is strongest when the plot centers in and around the Middle East.

This time around Wells r...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Quentin Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is my introduction to John Wells and I look forward to reading the previous volumes that Mr. Berenson has written with Wells as the main character. I found the book to be interesting, well written, and to be very plausible.

John Wells id an ex-CIA agent who is tasked with going back to Afghanistan to look at the problems within the CIA station there. The job comes along at the time that Wells is trying to start a new relationship with his son. His investigation leads to activities that the C...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

In reading this book, you learn a lot about what is happening in Afghanistan that is not reported in the news. For instance, the ease of obtaining drugs, namely heroin in the poppy-growing region. It is hoped that soldiers returning are not hooked on the drug as were so many of the soldiers returning from Vietnam.

In The Shadow Patrol, rumors spread about a CIA officer helping the Taliban and ex-CIA agent John Wells is called upon to go to Kabul and investigate the allegations. John only has one...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Jacqui rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-mystery

Alex Berenson's latest novel "Shadow Patrol" is his sixth novel and I have read them all. The plot was not as far reaching or gripping as his previous novels; therefore in my opinion, it wasn't the can't-put-it-down page turner I have come to expect. Nonetheless, it is well crafted, tightly written and the plot is filled with military and criminal detail which makes it highly credible.

Mr. Berenson's star character, Special Operations pro John Wells returns once again to the service of his countr...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Paul Pessolano rated it 3 of 5 stars

“The Shadow Patrol” by Alex Berenson, published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Category – Mystery/Thriller

For those who have not read Alex Berenson, John Wells is ex-CIA, but continues to work for them when special operations are needed.

Wells is very familiar with Afghanistan, its history and its culture, in fact, Wells has converted to the Muslim faith. He believes in the true Muslim, not those espoused by al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other rebel factions.

A trusted Jordanian doctor convinces agents in Ka...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Anthony Pacifico rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the best, if not THE best, action/spy thriller series I've ever read. Alex Berenson, former NY Times journalist has covered so many major world events, especially the war in Afghanistan. He has turned his knowledge of that war and tech politics surrounding it on all sides into this best selling series about John Wells, former CIA agent and now "retired."

When we first met John Wells, in the award winning first book in this series, "The Faithful Spy", he was the first American to i...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 110-books-in-2012-and-do-it-again, action-thriller, advanced-copy-review, free-book-for-honest-review, mystery, read-in-2012, reviewed, series, terrorists, thriller

A man who the CIA think will give them inside information about Arab terrorists, double crosses them and blows himself up at the CIA station outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. Many CIA officers are killed.

We learn that there are American soldiers dealing drugs with the Taliban and someone is giving the Taliban information about American soldiers.

John Wells has been a CIA problem solver and is asked to travel to Kabul to find answers.

Knowing the country and fluent in the language, he poses as a Saudi...more

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May 24, 2012 Andy rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you liked the other five books, you'll like this one too. Berenson's series started out differentiating itself from similar super-spy books by being more thoughtful and more open to trying to understand Islam and other cultures. But John Wells still goes around blowing away the bad guys. This book goes further than the previous volumes in questioning the ethical premise of the super-spy job itself. At some level, as LeCarre illustrates in his more realistic spy novels, the spy game is a self-...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Jeffrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: espionage, read-in-2012

Alex Berenson is at the top of his game in his latest espionage thriller starring the redoubtable John Wells. The sixth book in this series, following on the heels of the Secret Soldier, has Wells going to Afghanistan to investigate the CIA Station, which has had issues with station heads since a Taliban double agent fooled station personnel and the CIA in Langley into arranging a meeting with up to 10 agents. While there, the Taliban agent detonated a bomb in his vest killing most of the person...more Alex Berenson is at the top of his game in his latest espionage thriller starring the redoubtable John Wells. The sixth book in this series, following on the heels of the Secret Soldier, has Wells going to Afghanistan to investigate the CIA Station, which has had issues with station heads since a Taliban double agent fooled station personnel and the CIA in Langley into arranging a meeting with up to 10 agents. While there, the Taliban agent detonated a bomb in his vest killing most of the personnel at the meeting. This real event is retold in the beginning of the novel and is the factual basis for the fiction that follows.

Now two years later, and after several heads of the CIA station have been fired, the station is run by Peter Launter, the husband and brother of a pair of agents who were killed by the Taliban double agent. Langley is concerned because some agents in Afghanistan have been blown, and they wonder if its possible that there is a mole in the Afghanistan station feeding information to the Taliban. Meanwhile in another part of Afghanistan, Ricky Fowler, a young Marine, is shot and killed while on patrol after witnessing a drug buy between his sergeant and a Taliban. His bud Coleman Young realizes immediately that the bullet that killed Fowler came from in the platoon, but under pressure for his life and with no where to go he has no options in camp. Also a Delta sniper attached to a secret Army team that travels in Afghanistan seems to be part of the drug operation.

Once Wells gets to the Stan, he decides that the best place to investigate is in country. He quickly heads off the grid and into the brush. Berenson keeps the pace moving as Wells uses his Saudi contacts to go undercover as a rich Saudi seeking to fund the Taliban. While he is in the brush getting his hands dirty when captured by a group of Taliban thugs, Young does a little snooping around at his Camp and the unknown CIA traitor meets with the Delta sniper about the drug trade. Is the story only about a bunch of crooked Marines making money on drugs or is there a bigger picture at work.

Berenson provides the clues and its easy enough to read their meaning from the pages, but its up to Wells and his handler in the United States to piece together the plot. In the end, Wells must use all of his wits as a spy and skills as a warrior to find the dirty players, unmask the CIA traitor and ultimately confront the Delta sniper.

Another winning novel from my go to guy for espionage novels.

(less)

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May 11, 2012 Morris Floyd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cheesy-recreational-fiction

I've enjoyed reading all the John Wells stories so far. Although Wells and his opponents tend to leave bodies strewn from one end of the planet to the other, there is something redemptively interesting about him -- his conversion to Islam during his first mission to Afghanistan (covered in the first novel). This novel follows the last couple in moving away from chasing foreign bad guys to chasing bad guys who dishonor their US comrades. In this story we know whodunit and part of the why from the...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: spies, fave-writers, fave-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 14, 2013 Arthur rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-thriller

This novel begins as an espionage thriller on the lines of Alan Furst and Eric Ambler, but ends as a first-rate commercial thriller. Mr. Berenson shows he is good at both genres, but has to stay with one at a time. He has an eye for detail and knows his subject matter. He has an uncanny feel for the CIA culture and tradecraft and sharp understanding of the military mind and methods. The characters he builds are alive and contribute to the sense of reality. When some meet their demise, there’s a...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Toni Osborne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book 6, in the John Wells series

Alex Berenson excels in creating a meticulously plotted novel in which his protagonist, John Wells, is not only memorable for his skills but also for the man he turned out to be. He is given well-known human frailties, makes mistakes and occasionally finds himself in the middle of sticky situations but always manages to come out with only minor scratches and the same driving force he went in with. The writer’s portrayal of Afghanistan, its people, their cultures a...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Doug Bower rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the John Wells saga that I have read. The storyline and writing style reminds me quite a bit of the early Tom Clancy novels which I loved. I really like the John Wells character (although he is a bit of a stereotypical tough guy) and the storyline was great. I particularly like the author's writing from multiple perspectives and bringing them all together in the end (although I would have liked for it to have come together a bit tighter in the end). Other than a few slo...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alex Berenson is a terrific thriller writer who improves with each John Wells book. One reviewer wrote that he read the book slowly and deliberately because he didn't want it to end. That is exactly how I felt. The characters are well drawn, the plot builds the suspense page after page with all of the subplots seamlessly leading us to a highly anticipated showdown between Wells and the U.S. soldiers who are illegally profiting from the war in Afghanistan. Once again Berenson demonstrates that po...more

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May 30, 2012 Zach rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: military-fiction

Probably my third favorite in the series, after the first and The Silent Man. Since this is my favorite thriller series out of the many thrillers I've read, that's saying a good deal. After an attack based heavily on the late-2009 suicide bombing at Camp Chapman, Khost, Afghanistan cripples a CIA outpost in Afghanistan, John Wells is sent in tasked with investigating suspicions of a mole capitalizing on the chaos. In the meantime, Wells gets caught up in protecting an American soldier from a gro...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Gerald rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, genre-action, genre-fiction, genre-mystery, genre-suspense, location-afghanistan, location-middle-east, theme-military, theme-war, theme-terrorist-activity

In this 6th novel in the series Berenson's protagonist John Wells, an ex-CIA Agent, is prevailed upon to return to Afghanistan to solve a critical problem of a suspected mole inside the CIA. Drug smuggling issues soon lead to a suspected unidentified American working with the Taliban and local warlords making a killing from selling drugs to "dirty" American soldiers. American soldiers are dying from watch appears to be intentional friendly fire. There is a lot of action.

I enjoyed the book and r...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Larry Rogers rated it 4 of 5 stars

John Wells agrees to go to Afghanistan and report on the intelligence situation in the wake of the suicide bombing that killed nine CIA operatives. He discovers inefficiency at the top of the CIA effort, corruption at the heart of the Afghan government, and serious drug-smuggling on the part of American troops. His discoveries place him in great danger, but he copes, given his lethal range of talents. "The Shadow Patrol" is a good thriller that merits 3 stars for sure, 3 1/2 stars almost certain...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Kim McGee rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this as an advance copy and although I don't usually read military thrillers this one was well done. CIA operative John Wells must go back to Kabal to investigate what happened to an operative. What he finds is that the Americans might not be the good guys. Moles, secrets and traps await. Alex Berenson's former life as a journalist has given him a very good knowledge of the Middle East and his fiction may not be too far from the truth. Regardless, it makes for one great fast paced thr...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Jerome rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paperbacks-to-buy-for-me, favorite-thrillers

Excellent, but,then again, Berenson's work usually, ahem, always is.

Infiltrating either side as a spy should not be that simple but often goes undetected. Somehow Marci Holm seems to feel that one man might not be what he appears to be and she might be the one that is being set up. Feeding him information and hopefully what she receives back will help take down not only bin Laden but al Zawahiri too. But, suspicions fly high in her head and she is not sure whether he can be trusted or not. Suppo...more Excellent, but,then again, Berenson's work usually, ahem, always is.

Infiltrating either side as a spy should not be that simple but often goes undetected. Somehow Marci Holm seems to feel that one man might not be what he appears to be and she might be the one that is being set up. Feeding him information and hopefully what she receives back will help take down not only bin Laden but al Zawahiri too. But, suspicions fly high in her head and she is not sure whether he can be trusted or not. Supposedly the man called Rashid a doctor is one who is helping her with her mission. But something, let's say a gut feeling tells her there is something she is missing and this man who claims to be a doctor just might be a double agent. As the story continues we learn more about this doctor. When instincts kick in it is really sad that no one listens as the end result is tragic and Marci's instincts were right on track as Rashid comes face to face with her and what happens will set up a serious and explosive chain of events.

Rick Fowler was not really cut out for the army. He sensed that something was wrong as he and several officers were going in search of Taliban. Warning his commanding officer in charge of the search he said that one of the men he saw reminded him of someone he had seen before. Why did they want Rodriquez in their compound and what happened to them? When Rick looks into it further he sees something that would ultimately take his life. As he observes Rodriquez and Roman using drugs, he learns that they are working the other side selling it. But, why and how would this get Fowler killed and what did one officer know that would shed some light on the murder?

John Wells divorced his wife when his son was just a little over a year old. Meeting him as a teen was awkward and Evan was not that friendly when they met. John is asked to go undercover to find out just what happened to the men in the Kabul Station. How did the Taliban infiltrate and where will this lead him now. Serving as a freelance troubleshooter for the CIA he would uncover more than just the Taliban and the corruption within the agency and the military too. As a result of his meeting with his son, which did not go well at all, John Wells decides to take a freelance mission with his old agency. As a result of what happens to Fowler and the suicide bombing that killed some good agents and the station chief in the CIA's Kabul station, he is asked to go to Afghanistan to find out what is really going on and report to CIA chief Vince Duto.

John is going over and his job is a morale mission and to find out just which CIA officer might be working for the other side and investigate the drug issue too. Realizing that his meeting with his son went worse than terrible, he saw no reason to remain in the states and not take the mission. A heroin drug ring was at the center of the murder.

John Wells gets a rude awakening when visiting the Kabul Station. Hoping to learn about the operation and uncover the drug ring operating within the agency, he gets stonewalled by some of the top officials. Meeting Peter Lautner the deputy chief did not really help or give him any real information as he was being cautious and did not trust Wells.

The author reveals the information about the agents involved in smuggling drugs, how and why the operation started and the enormous profits made on both sides. Moles on our side and the Taliban and many other plays that have yet to be revealed.

Speaking to a woman named Joanna Frey he learns more about the opium connection, the influx of money from heroine and opium and the connections to the Thuwani tribe. Wiretaps, transcripts and one man named David Miller who was tied to it all. But, who is he exactly and what is his connection? As Miller enjoys the money and the rush of getting the drugs and handing them over he receives a phone call that would change it all. Forced to continue in a different manner and being closely watched he no longer reaps the same benefits and now he has to watch out for his life.

As the threads start to be sewn together and the players on both sides are brought into the tapestry of deceit, lies and treason, some will walk away and others will pay the ultimate price. When Shafer learns who is behind the drug trafficking and who the moles are will he be able to stop them before someone else is killed? Will John make it out or will he pay too in more ways than one? Just how will Facebook draw these two moles out? Wait and see the explosive ending to this novel.

Author Alex Berenson takes the reader inside Afghanistan, Kandahar, and Saudi Arabia and allows the reader to hear the inside dealings on both sides, the moles and their drones doing the deals and the end result will definitely surprise the reader. Who is Stan and why is he the mole? Why would an American in a top position sell himself to the other side? How does the beginning relate to the end? This is one novel that will keep you wondering until you turn the last page and even past hoping to find out what the author has in store for John the next time he is called by the CIA.

Once again Alex Berenson penned a novel filled with history, explains the events directly to the reader through the narrator and definitely makes you understand the job of our soldiers, superiors and how many have given their lives for our country and how some turned a blind eye. So, who will win out in the end? Shafer or will Duto listen to what he has to say? What will John do when faced with the truth and how will it all turn out? Read The Shadow Patrol to find out.(less)

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Feb 29, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, thriller

Although I’m an eclectic reader, I don’t usually choose espionage or military thrillers. After receiving an advance copy of the audiobook of The Shadow Patrol, I had an opportunity to give another one of them a try. Every once in a while it’s good to move outside my usual genres and sometimes I’m surprised to find a good book that I wouldn’t have normally read or listened to.

I approached the story as if it were a stand-alone book even though a quick read through the synopsis told me it was book...more Although I’m an eclectic reader, I don’t usually choose espionage or military thrillers. After receiving an advance copy of the audiobook of The Shadow Patrol, I had an opportunity to give another one of them a try. Every once in a while it’s good to move outside my usual genres and sometimes I’m surprised to find a good book that I wouldn’t have normally read or listened to.

I approached the story as if it were a stand-alone book even though a quick read through the synopsis told me it was book six of a series. It’s always nice to have more background information on the characters but this didn’t stop me from following the plot itself. In a perfect world I would go back and read every series from the beginning but that’s not always possible, so I just jumped in.

I’m not sure what Wells role was in previous books but now he is working for the CIA as an independent contractor on a mission to find out who the mole is at Kabul Station, Afghanistan. The story moved along at an even pace. I was provided with enough character background to stay engaged and as I listened I got wrapped up in the adventure and forgot that this was part of a series.

I admit I am not very knowledgeable about Afghanistan but the writing and descriptions brought the dangers in the country and the tensions among the locals to life. While I eventually had a pretty good idea who the bad guy was, it wasn’t until the end that I was sure. There were enough characters with hidden agendas to keep me guessing.

Narrator George Guidall was, as usual, a pleasure to listen to. His voice was perfect for tough guy John Wells plus I had no trouble believing his different Arabic accents. As a bonus, I know when I see his name as narrator that there will be believable female voices and I was not disappointed. He is one of the few I’ve listened to that pulls it off nicely.

While a cast of terrorists, snipers and soldiers is not my usual choice in books, the story was well written and kept me entertained. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre and to anyone wanting to stretch outside their usual reading.(less)

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Jan 05, 2012 Jessica Howard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, mystery-thriller

As The Shadow Patrol begins, Alex Berenson's star agent is off to investigate the Kabul office of the CIA. Two years after a suicide bomber gutted the station, the CIA is still struggling to get back on its feet and reestablish its contacts in Afghanistan.

John Wells--agent, killer, faithful Muslim--is always willing to do what he can for his government. Going undercover to find the source of the problems in the Kabul office, he hears rumors of drug smuggling, and as he follows the trail, his sus...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Alec rated it 4 of 5 stars

Due to the ramdom nature of my library's hold system I have ended up with three books in three weeks that are all similar in genre but different enough in the details that I don't feel like I just read the same story over and over and over again. While each deal with a Special Forces agent tasked with "saving the world", each author hasa different enough angle to keep me ineterested and eager for their next novel. Alex Berenson's angle is that his protagonist, John Wells, is introduced into the...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Ryan Mac rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: other-giveaways

This is the sixth book featuring CIA man John Wells. Of all the CIA/spy thrillers, the John Wells books seem to be the best that I have read. Wells is a smart and capable guy but not the super man that some of the others make their characters to be and he honestly questions himself and what he is doing--a nice change. The secondary characters are also well rounded, like Ellis Shafer and Vinny Duto at the CIA.

This book didn't have the huge, far-reaching plot that are seen in the first three or f...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Tad rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, first-reads

John Wells returns in The Shadow Patrol, and Alex Berenson has delivered another great thriller. Berenson’s knowledge of the Middle East and Afghanistan adds a level of grittiness and reality to the story for a depth that isn’t always there in other thrillers.

In Shadow Patrol, John Wells must look for a mole in the CIA’s operations in Afghanistan. A drug trafficking conspiracy involving the military, the CIA and the Taliban leave Wells once again uncertain who he can rely on. Hidden agendas lie...more

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The Shadow Patrol (John Wells #6)

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