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The Faithful Spy (John Wells #1)

by Alex Berenson (Goodreads Author)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 3,642 ratings · 340 reviews

“A well-crafted page-turner that addresses the most important issue of our time. It will keep you reading well into the night.”–Vince Flynn

A New York Times reporter has drawn upon his experience covering the occupation in Iraq to write the most gripping and chillingly plausible thriller of the post-9/11 era. Alex Berenson’s debut novel of suspense, The Faithful Spy, is a s...more “A well-crafted page-turner that addresses the most important issue of our time. It will keep you reading well into the night.”–Vince Flynn

A New York Times reporter has drawn upon his experience covering the occupation in Iraq to write the most gripping and chillingly plausible thriller of the post-9/11 era. Alex Berenson’s debut novel of suspense, The Faithful Spy, is a sharp, explosive story that takes readers inside the war on terror as fiction has never done before.

John Wells is the only American CIA agent ever to penetrate al Qaeda. Since before the attacks in 2001, Wells has been hiding in the mountains of Pakistan, biding his time, building his cover.
Now, on the orders of Omar Khadri–the malicious mastermind plotting more al Qaeda strikes on America–Wells is coming home. Neither Khadri nor Jennifer Exley, Wells’s superior at Langley, knows quite what to expect.

For Wells has changed during his years in the mountains. He has become a Muslim. He finds the United States decadent and shallow. Yet he hates al Qaeda and the way it uses Islam to justify its murderous assaults on innocents. He is a man alone, and the CIA–still reeling from its failure to predict 9/11 or find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq–does not know whether to trust him. Among his handlers at Langley, only Exley believes in him, and even she sometimes wonders. And so the agency freezes Wells out, preferring to rely on high-tech means for gathering intelligence.

But as that strategy fails and Khadri moves closer to unleashing the most devastating terrorist attack in history, Wells and Exley must somehow find a way to stop him, with or without the government’s consent.

From secret American military bases where suspects are held and “interrogated” to basement laboratories where al Qaeda’s scientists grow the deadliest of biological weapons, The Faithful Spy is a riveting and cautionary tale, as affecting in its personal stories as it is sophisticated in its political details. The first spy thriller to grapple squarely with the complexities and terrors of today’s world, this is a uniquely exciting and unnerving novel by an author who truly knows his territory.

From the Hardcover edition.(less)

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published April 25th 2006 by Random House (first published 2006)

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Community Reviews

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Jul 24, 2007 Djinnjer rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: fiction, reviewed

This book started off somewhat interesting, including characters caught between the need for intelligence and the rights of suspects post-9/11. I suspected I'd disagree with it politically but hoped it would be a good read anyway. Halfway through, though, it turned from political thriller into a bad romance novel in which I hoped the protagonist and his handler/love interest would never meet again. She continued to believe in him despite serious questions within the CIA and refused to pull him i...more

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Mar 26, 2009 Jeffrey rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: espionage thriller fans

Shelves: espionage, read-in-2009

a very well done espionage novel about John Wells, a CIA spy who infilitrates Al Quaida and comes in from the cold to attempt to stop a plot to destroy New York City with a dirty bomb. The characters are very well drawn, and Wells problems, issues and characterization is much better drawn out than in the next two books. The various terrorists are also given more than a little attention.

Somewhat like some other super agents of recent vintage Wells is a killing machine, but he has a soul and that...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: spy

Why is it that every gritty spy novel feels the need to proclaim the power of Le Carre on the cover? In the best case, the book is worth of the praise, but then the author might want to have their own identity? In the worst case it is meaningless because not every one is Le Carre. Sorry for that truth.

Rant aside, i think this book came close than some others to living up to they hype. I get the comparison; it is realism and difficult. On the other hand, it is a lot more action oriented than most...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson is a novel following a man who was a CIA asset in al Qaeda. The novel takes place in Afghanistan and the United States.

John Wells is the only CIA agent managed to infiltrate al Qaeda, in the process he has become a faithful Muslim but still an American patriot. Understandably, John’s al Qaeda bosses don’t fully trust him, but as a result of his long absence and finding a new religion, his CIA bosses don’t trust him either.

Trying to prove himself...more The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson is a novel following a man who was a CIA asset in al Qaeda. The novel takes place in Afghanistan and the United States.

John Wells is the only CIA agent managed to infiltrate al Qaeda, in the process he has become a faithful Muslim but still an American patriot. Understandably, John’s al Qaeda bosses don’t fully trust him, but as a result of his long absence and finding a new religion, his CIA bosses don’t trust him either.

Trying to prove himself as a patriot and foil the next big attack on American soil, John puts himself on the line of fire, together with an al Qaeda cell while trying to evade the CIA who will bring him in.

After finishing to read The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson I added Mr. Berenson to my favorite authors list immediately. The novel grabbed me from the first several pages and didn’t let go until the last sentence.

Mr. Berenson is a superb storyteller and describing details which lets you feel the story and immerse yourself in it without any superfluous descriptions. Even though this story tells of a man deeply embedded with al Qaeda, I thought that it was a modern American western – the type which legends are made of.

The comparison to an American western comes with flaws of course, a lot of chest thumping, the justification of torture (as long as it’s done by the good guys) and abandoning the gray areas which make up most of our lives, especially those in espionage and the mark of a good spy novel.

It is difficult to write a spy novel which deals with terrorism and Islamist extremists, mostly because we do not have the ability to understand the enemy and the thousands of years of culture behind them which make them act a certain way. Unlike other spy novels taking place in more traditional times (the Cold War for example) where our enemy was almost a mirror image of us – even though we justified it to ourselves that we were the good guys and they were, of course, simply wrong.

The novel is divided into 2 parts, “The Homecoming King” which is absolutely brilliant and “The Believers” which is very good, but not as good as the first part. The “ticking bomb” scenario at the end is a bit stale, something most action novels have, but it is very well written.

In Part 1 the reader gets a deeper understanding of Islamist fanatics, even though this is a novel it seemed to me that the author did his research and managed to present it in an informative, interesting way which will lead one to better understand the world’s headlines. The protagonist’s return to America, after absences of a decade living with deeply devout Muslims, is an amazing analysis of a man between two worlds who is trying, unsuccessfully, to merge them both together. He is seeing his beloved country, its decadence and decay, with new eyes and a fresh perspective.

Part 1 could have been a whole book all by itself. If you ever left your childhood town, only to return a few decades later, for better or worst as a stranger, you will somewhat understand how John Wells sees the US when he comes back. The memories, remembered through a rose colored filter, are shattered. The absence of shame and decorum are a slap in the face to a man who has fought hard for "our way of life".

I am looking forward to read more of Mr. Berenson’s novels, he is obviously capable of literary excellence as he proved in part 1 of this novel. Maybe he had some bad advice on the second part, maybe he was in a rush or merely just succumbed to the pressures of commercial success. However, that is all conjecture on my part and certainly unfair to the author who has shown great talent.

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Oct 08, 2011 Mal Warwick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Al Qaeda from the inside out: a thriller filled with suspense

John Wells is the only CIA operative ever to succeed in infiltrating Al Qaeda. Now, after a decade undercover in Afghanistan and Chechnya, he finally appears to have gained the confidence of the group’s top leaders. Summoned to an audience with Ayman al-Zawahiri, Wells is dispatched to the USA to play a key role in a terrorist plot to rival 9/11.

As the story unfolds, we learn that Wells is no longer trusted by the CIA — with the except...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Blood Rose Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first in a series, Alex Berenson debut takes the reader on a Spy Game that is very realistic to the World`s current state and one gets the feeling that everything written could happen today.

John Wells is an All-American from Montana, now he is the only operative that had successfully infiltrated al Qaeda, even to the status of a commander of a small force, but his resolve is the same to kill Bin Laden. But Wells does not travel an easy road, it is hard for him to make contact with the agency...more The first in a series, Alex Berenson debut takes the reader on a Spy Game that is very realistic to the World`s current state and one gets the feeling that everything written could happen today.

John Wells is an All-American from Montana, now he is the only operative that had successfully infiltrated al Qaeda, even to the status of a commander of a small force, but his resolve is the same to kill Bin Laden. But Wells does not travel an easy road, it is hard for him to make contact with the agency as he is in the hills of Pakistan and the agency is beginning not to trust Wells, as he was unable to prevent September 11. Years pass and Wells has taken up the Muslim faith with vigor, not just to blend in, but he feels at peace with his Quran. He has accepted the al Qaeda view that America is shallow, useless, spineless and mindless culture that has a vice for over indulgence and violence. He does not understand the American Way any more. But Wells will get his chance, to revisit America for al Qaeda has plans for Wells, he is going home, but the main question is, Is he still a CIA operative?

Berenson has created a novel that has a very real feel to it, and that the possibilities that are presented could really not be that far off from the truth. I enjoyed that he did not go so far out there that what he was writing was impossible. It made me think, Do the Americans have an Agent in al Qaeda?

I like Wells as a character, and how Berenson shaped him through out the book. Wells has definitely been shaped by hi choice to leave his family, life and America to serve the CIA in al Qaeda and what haunts him the most is his inability to kill Bin Laden and to prevent September 11. These facts weigh heavily on his mind, and are the basis of many decisions that he makes. But what makes Wells truly interesting aspect is his belief in the Quran. Studying it`s words, teachings and developing a hate for everything that America stands for and what America has done, he really questions whether he wants to protect that or not.

This was a nonstop thriller that was not overly violent just really good suspense and wondering how Wells will get through everything and what will happen next. You also get a good sense of the "Bad Guys" as Berenson has written chapters from their point of view, which help show why they following the teachings of the Koran and sometimes why the chose to join al Qaeda as wells as give hints for the final their plans. I found that this added more depth to the storyline and gave the reader just a touch of insight to the other side. Khadri is the type of today individual/radical that one should fear, for he is the brain who comes up with the attacks and is able to manipulate people to commit them for him, whether they are aware of it or not. To me that is a truly scary person.

The Faithful Spy is a great adventure thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and questioning, Could something like this really Happen, but being unable to put it down as you want to know what will Wells choose and how will it end.

Enjoy!!!(less)

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Jul 29, 2011 James Schubring rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alex Berenson paints John Wells, our 'faithful spy,' so well that I could imagine sitting across the table with steaks and beers chatting about his life. He's got a fully fleshed existence between the pages of this taut book, quite an accomplishment. We catch up to him after he's infiltrated into al Qaeda and has to sacrifice all the men in his cell to make contact with the Americans: he's been out of touch with his masters in the CIA but he's still faithful. It's a wonderful scene, one of many...more Alex Berenson paints John Wells, our 'faithful spy,' so well that I could imagine sitting across the table with steaks and beers chatting about his life. He's got a fully fleshed existence between the pages of this taut book, quite an accomplishment. We catch up to him after he's infiltrated into al Qaeda and has to sacrifice all the men in his cell to make contact with the Americans: he's been out of touch with his masters in the CIA but he's still faithful. It's a wonderful scene, one of many in this well crafted tale.

His recurring challenge in this book is his faith: for Americans, against the ranks of al Qaeda, for Islam and the Koran. After he receives a mission he leaves for America, not knowing what he'll do, but returns to Montana (his home) and discovers everything he left behind gone, mother dead, wife moved on, forbidden to see his son. Berenson devotes the proper amount of time and energy into developing this aspect of Wells: we feel for him how much he's sacrificed to do what he's done, how much will go unappreciated by the suits in Langley at the CIA.

The plot gets going late into the story. Wells, not quite trusted by his handler, is sent to-and-fro to check to see if he's who he said he was. He connects back up with his handler at the CIA, the predictable and unnecessary love interest element, and then walks into a situation he doesn't understand. He's not to be an instrument of a plot, merely a vector, someone who starts a catastrophe he can't stop. There's biowarfare and conventional bombs and all sorts of scary things out there. Dying, toward the end of the story, he doesn't let death stand in his way. He ends successful. It's how we want to think of our spies. Working against internal and external adversity, making the right things happen even after wading through the intelligence bureaucracy. (The CIA director is a laughable caricature in this first book, a bit painful in conception.)

The subsequent books feel rushed and smaller by comparison. Berenson feels like he took his time with this first story...and he got the main details right about John Wells. Well worth the read.(less)

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Jul 27, 2011 KarenC rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers of spy thrillers

Recommended to KarenC by: Edgar award

Shelves: better_than_tv, edgar-best-first-novel-american, spies, suspense

A terrific first novel in the tradition of the original WW II spies with infiltration, fooling the opposition, being left on one's own, but with current events relevance and today's sense of adventure and action. Author can stand up to LeCarre, Furst, Flynn, Clancy's Ryan series, Silva's Allon series, and more. I still remember Forsyth's The Jackel , the early Robert Ludlum's, Alistair MacLean's, and Bill Granger's plots being tighter, better written, more suspenseful, but in most cases less vio...more

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Apr 15, 2011 Yvann S rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have a weakness for spy thrillers, but most of the ones I have read have either been FBI/CIA/NSA within the USA (usually by David Baldacci, for whose plots I express unreserved awe mixed with amusement) or secret international sect protected by naughty governments around the world is exposed by brainiac with sidekick (Dan Brown and his copycats).

This one was a little different – following a CIA sleeper agent inside Al-Qaeda. One of the reasons I really enjoyed this was that Berenson considered...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Will rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mitch Rapp junkies

Recommended to Will by: The right person

Shelves: mandatory-read

John Wells Deep Cover Al Qaeda Infiltration. Montana high school star is recruited by the CIA and enters Afghanistan prior to 9/11 as an undercover spy. He remains with Qaeda for 10 years fighting in Chechnya and Afghan. He makes brief contact with the CIA during a Qaeda mission but returns to his muslim life, only to be sent on a mission to the US by UBL's reps to participate in a dangerous dirty bomb mission. Living as a gray man in Atlanta, Wells awaits his call but desperately misses Exley,...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Bruce Snell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Book One in the John Wells series by Alex Berenson. John Wells works for the CIA - he is deeply undercover in al Qaeda in Afghanistan and has been since 1996. He went thru the camps, served in Serbia, and now (1996) he is being sent to the United States as part of a mission. John's CIA handlers don't believe that he is still theirs, or that he can be trusted (well, except for Jennifer Exley, his previous handler). Unfortunately for John, he has been kept at such a low operational level in al Qae...more

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Feb 07, 2010 asteroidbuckle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of spy novels

Shelves: spy-novels

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Meet John Wells. American citizen. Devout Muslim. Member of al Qaeda.

He's also a CIA agent who's been the only one able to infilitrate the terrorist group. Under deep cover for years, he finally makes contact with American forces in the mountains of Pakistan. After leaving a note with them for his handler back home, Jennifer Exley, he decides to stay where he is with the promise to continue trying to kill Osama bin Laden. After that, he seems to disappear.

Several years pass without a word or sig...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller-suspense, winter-2011-12, suspense-intrigue

The horrific events of 9/11 have changed the espionage thriller genre and new authors with huge followings have taken up the war on terror. Among these popular authors is Alex Berenson. He brilliantly introduces readers to John Wells, a CIA operative who has given up his family, parents, wife, and son to successfully infiltrate al Qaeda. Both his agency and the terrorists are wary of him.

He has spent 10 years proving himself to UBL and al Zawahiri in the desolate plateaus of Pakistan and in th...more The horrific events of 9/11 have changed the espionage thriller genre and new authors with huge followings have taken up the war on terror. Among these popular authors is Alex Berenson. He brilliantly introduces readers to John Wells, a CIA operative who has given up his family, parents, wife, and son to successfully infiltrate al Qaeda. Both his agency and the terrorists are wary of him.

He has spent 10 years proving himself to UBL and al Zawahiri in the desolate plateaus of Pakistan and in the bitter Chechen plains. He has even converted to Islam, but some of the jhadi still don’t fully trust the American who they know as Jalal. His own agency doubts him since he didn’t stop the 9/11 attacks. “He never said how [he infiltrated al Qaeda] and Exley never asked, since the answer no doubt included violations of agency regulations and U. S. law. Langley didn’t know what to do with Wells…Wells was simply trying to prove himself to al Qaeda while sending back what he could about the group’s structure and plans.” My heart missed a beat or two when Wells killed five of his men so he could give information to a Special Force commander.

But the narrative became more intriguing when a little girl spots the fighter jets coming towards the United airliner. The terror of the people on the plane was palpable. Explosions happen in California. Are these diversions or a prelude for THE attack that will dwarf the events of 9/11 that al Zawahiri spoke of when Wells met him and two other men in Pakistan? Is that why he is being sent to America? Does he have enough information to pass onto Langley to stop Khadi and the Qaeda sleepers already in America? He turns to Jennifer Exley, his handler and the only one who still believes in him to help him stop two heinous plans.

Berenson gets 5 stars for inventing the faithful spy, John Wells. Who is he really faithful to? Allah, al Qaeda, his country? The twists and turns of the great attacks on the U.S. are gripping and heart stopping. But the romantic Wells/Exley subplot was silly and turned me off and the epilogue was unsatisfactory for me to take a star of my rating. Despite these complaints, I look forward to reading Berenson’s sophomore entry of the John Wells Series.
(less)

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Jan 06, 2008 Tom rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone stuck on a long plane flight

This book was a single gulp on a long airplane flight. Just right for killing five hours. Another episode of Jack Ryan, or Jack Bauer, or whatever your favorite secret hero may be.

Terrorists, bombs, lies, and germs. The submarines and fighter jets of today.

Not great literature, not even a really great story, per se, but overall, much better than spending five hours staring at the back of the seat in front of you.

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Mar 22, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'd rate this a bit more than four stars.

John Wells is the only agent with the CIA to infiltrate al Qaeda. He fought with them in Chechnya and then in Afghanistan with almost no contact with anyone in the U.S., much to the dismay of his handler, Jennifer Exley, and his superiors within the CIA. They’re not sure whose side he’s on, and he’s back on U.S. soil awaiting orders in another attack by al Qaeda.

I’m not going to go into the plot too much; for one thing, I think it’s pretty obvious from ev...more I'd rate this a bit more than four stars.

John Wells is the only agent with the CIA to infiltrate al Qaeda. He fought with them in Chechnya and then in Afghanistan with almost no contact with anyone in the U.S., much to the dismay of his handler, Jennifer Exley, and his superiors within the CIA. They’re not sure whose side he’s on, and he’s back on U.S. soil awaiting orders in another attack by al Qaeda.

I’m not going to go into the plot too much; for one thing, I think it’s pretty obvious from even the tiny blurb on the back of the book. Also, there’s a whole lot going on in The Faithful Spy, and I don’t want to give any of the twists and turns away. Most of it was told from the perspective of Wells and, to a much lesser extent, his handler, Exley, but interspersed were also POVs of members of al Qaeda and even of people who are peripherally involved in the story. Some may not like that, but I really enjoyed seeing what was going on from these other perspectives.

I really liked Wells’ character. He's really a good guy, though he willingly sacrificed a lot to do his job and some might say he took that job a little too far. However, I understood why he did what he did; he felt that he’d failed by not knowing or being able to do anything about the attacks in the U.S. on September 11, 2001 and he felt he was the only one with the ability to really stop whatever was being planned next. It was interesting to see how he’d changed and how he reacclimated to western civilization (more like civilization, period) once he left Afghanistan. Jennifer Exley, Wells’ handler was fine, though, in one scene where John asked her to tell him a story, the story she told him was ridiculous and didn’t fit with her character (I know she said it wasn’t something she ever did again, but…), it made no sense and didn’t add anything to the story. I was also a little annoyed that the one chick in the book does something like this and chooses that to tell him. Ugh. Other than that, I did like how she trusted John but was still a bit wary at times. I also liked her boss, Ellis quite a bit and the relationship the two had.

The one thing about the story was that it was actually a bit dated, since Osama bin Laden has since been killed, but it’s still a really relevant read that I enjoyed a lot. Yes, there are some things that happened a little to easily, or luck was really on Wells’ side, but, overall, I thought Berenson wrote a very realistic novel about terrorism in today’s world. I’ll definitely be picking up the second book.(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 James rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book really caught my eye when I found it on here. It takes a unique - as far as I know - viewpoint on the war on terror, with the protagonist being a deep cover CIA agent in Al Qaeda. During his time there he has come to see the west as decadent and has converted to Islam, but he still works against Al Qaeda. So when he is sent home by Al Qaeda to do a mission, he is confronted by a decadent world, mistrusting employers and a plot to re-ignite the Jihad on America and its western allies. Y...more This book really caught my eye when I found it on here. It takes a unique - as far as I know - viewpoint on the war on terror, with the protagonist being a deep cover CIA agent in Al Qaeda. During his time there he has come to see the west as decadent and has converted to Islam, but he still works against Al Qaeda. So when he is sent home by Al Qaeda to do a mission, he is confronted by a decadent world, mistrusting employers and a plot to re-ignite the Jihad on America and its western allies. Yeah, sounds like it should be really, really interesting read.

But coming out of it all I got was a distinct sense of, 'meh'. I mean, I liked the subjects that were covered and the way that he did it, I just didn't connect with the book. All the way through it was damnably obvious that this was a average book, no more, no less. Three Stars all the way.

It had its good points.
- It wasn't your typical america is great so-on-so-forth, it was a nice investigation into the war on terror.
- The plot was anything but boring.
- It gave an insight into the mindsets of those fighting the war on terror.
- I really liked the music references; its like a nice bonus to read a book and have artists/songs you like being relevant to the book. It almost makes it that much more real to you, and being a big fan of Springsteen myself it was really nice to hear him mentioned more than twice.

And of course it has its bad points;
- When he escaped and the CIA just let him go. That was a perfect opportunity for the plot to really go into the whole do we/don't we trust him saga, but they just sat back and let it all be. It felt like a waste, and somewhat unreal - I mean, knowing that there is going to be a terror attack soon you don't just let one of your agents who may have flipped to Al Qaeda just walk away. You know?
- There was way too much emphasis on the terrorists. It almost felt like Wells had become a bit-part player in his own novel. The amount of time that was spent going over and over Y. Pesticide (or what ever it was - the plague) and the Al Qaeda scientists relationship was annoying as hell. I wanted more Wells, more... hero. Personally I think this is where the novel is weakest; for me, book's greatest strength comes from the ability to weave complex characters, for you to be one with the character to understand them like no one else. And this book lacks that. To be honest I think that this book would have made a great film, but as a book it just lacked characterisation for me.
- For an author who is also/used to be a journalist his English skills were lacking a little. I mean, the most obvious one was his inability to make lists. It was 'I have X and Y and Z and B and S', when a 'I have X,Y,Z,B and S works so much better! The amount of times I was jarred out of the book because of this alone...

But still, this is worth a read. It is not amazing, but it does delve into interesting ideas and is reasonably well presented. If you are looking for award winning material look else where, if you are looking for a beach read or just a relaxing thriller(ish) then this is your book.

Have Fun Reading. (less)

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Feb 08, 2011 Matt Crumpton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: spy-thriller

Man oh man have I been waiting for another novel like this to come around. I love a book that can get you hooked and keep it that way until the last page. The novel ends and it leaves you wanting more. You even find yourself rereading it in the future. The Faithful Spy was that type of book for me. I have read so much crap and so so novels trying to find a work like this. I am glad I stumbled onto this book at the local library.

First off, I love spy thrillers. I am obsessed with the whole genre....more Man oh man have I been waiting for another novel like this to come around. I love a book that can get you hooked and keep it that way until the last page. The novel ends and it leaves you wanting more. You even find yourself rereading it in the future. The Faithful Spy was that type of book for me. I have read so much crap and so so novels trying to find a work like this. I am glad I stumbled onto this book at the local library.

First off, I love spy thrillers. I am obsessed with the whole genre. Unfortunately in my opinion, a lot of the novels and authors of this genre are pure crap. Authors who get so much praise like John LeCarre, Len Deighton, Daniel Silva and others I have found to be terrible, uninteresting authors of the spy thriller. I have done a lot of research and read a lot of books trying to find something I loved. I was about to give up and just think that maybe I like the idea of the spy thriller more than I actually like the work itself. But then I found Alex Berenson, who I did not find anything about in my research.

The novels I enjoy the most dealing with spies is Robert Ludlum. Now I know he has his critics, and a lot of that criticism is justified. Ludlum is not a great author, not even close. In my mind he has, despite there flaws, 4 great novels. The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Holcroft Covenant, and The Matarese Circle. I Find Alex Berenson and his The Faithful Spy to rank right up there with those of Ludlum, and probably exceed them. Alex Berensom is a much better writer and he writes about the world in which we live today.

This book is current. I love the Cold war spy novel, but it is outdated. Berenson is so fresh and current. I like him even better than contemporary spy novelist Daniel Silva. The character of John Wells, CIA deep cover agent, and the only guy to successfully infiltrate al Queda is the best character I have read about in the genre. Wells is so well drawn and his motivations are great. He is human. He is not some super spy unrealistic character that you get with other thrillers. He is genuine. His problems and issues seems very realistic. As I read I could identify with him and think that this might be close to what an agent like him really feels like in the real world. Very believable.

The prose is good. The novel has a nice even pace throughout. I cannot wait to read more of Berenson and more about John Wells. (less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Rob Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

'The Faithful Spy' is a fantastic thriller of terrorism in the U.S. The various sides are well covered with the viewpoints of each well laid out. Author Berenson has so well laid out the Muslim view that I could see people who are not Muslim take the religion in consideration. The view of being a radical Muslim can have a reading start to sympathize with the terrorists drive.

Same true for the efforts of the C.I.A. as various characters navigate through the bureaucratic maze to get a job done. T...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Ryun rated it 3 of 5 stars

CIA agent John Wells is pretty deep undercover. He’s immersed himself among the mujahedeen of Afghanistan, gone to fight for Muslims in Chechnya, converted to Islam, and done what no other agent has been able to do: infiltrate al-Qaeda to the point that many of the terrorists believe he’s on their side. He might have done too good a job, because after failing to provide an alert about 9/11, the CIA isn’t exactly sure what side he’s on. Thank God for that, because if the situation wasn’t as total...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My sister loooooooves this series and was on a massive hunt to find the last couple at Barnes and Noble because she’d seen the hardcovers in the bargain section a while ago but only bought one. So I finally acquiesced and picked up the first book, expecting an exciting read full of intrigue and action. I wasn’t expecting any sort of romantic relationship, but if there was one, fine by me, as long as it didn’t overpower the plot, since this is an espionage book. Well, I liked the plot but the ane...more My sister loooooooves this series and was on a massive hunt to find the last couple at Barnes and Noble because she’d seen the hardcovers in the bargain section a while ago but only bought one. So I finally acquiesced and picked up the first book, expecting an exciting read full of intrigue and action. I wasn’t expecting any sort of romantic relationship, but if there was one, fine by me, as long as it didn’t overpower the plot, since this is an espionage book. Well, I liked the plot but the anemic romance subplot nearly ruined it for me.

I know this isn’t meant to be about the relationship between Wells and Exley, but since the author’s going to go there, he’d better make it good. He didn’t. First off, Exley describes herself as being old enough to be the mother of a twenty-two year old, which would make me think she’s anywhere from her early to late forties. Then the book jumps ahead five years, which would mean she’d be late forties or early fifties, at the youngest (especially since she talks about needing Botox for her crow’s feet and lines on her neck and not getting plastic surgery). Yet she apparently has a relationship with Wells, who’s thirty-seven by the end of the book. And they were going to hook up before he left on his undercover mission until he had a crisis of conscience. What a guy. I think the only thing worse than his taste in women is his taste in music.

And sorry to all of the parents out there who are going to get their knickers in a twist, but there’s a reason Jason Bourne (at least in the movies, not sure about the books), James Bond and any superhero you can name don’t have kids (except for the last Superman. Notice there wasn’t a sequel?). It’s called escapism and it’s not a lot of fun to read about soccer practice, the PTA and spies. So strike one is that they’re both skanks for even considering cheating on their spouses, strike two is they both have exes and kids. She even has a freaking minivan. Does she have the mom jeans and stacked bob to go with it? I don’t have to have any sort of romantic relationship in a story to enjoy it, if the plot’s good enough, I don’t need any, however, if you’re going to include even the hint of one, don’t make the characters so blah that I’d rather read the phone book than about their personal lives. Strike three.

Luckily for me, I’m more of a hockey and football girl, so strikes don’t mean too much to me. I got through my ugh, this is gonna suck ‘cause of the stupid relationship problem and once the story itself got rolling, it was really good.

It seems that Berenson has either done a hell of a lot of research regarding terrorism, the government and spies or has a terrific imagination, probably a bit of both, because there are a lot of details concerning CIA and terrorist operations that ring true, at least to someone who isn’t knowledgeable about either one. I liked that the story didn’t always focus on Wells, but instead, we actually got to see through the eyes of the terrorists and others involved in the storylines. The author also did a great job at creating a believable story and an even better job at fashioning an elaborate network of terrorist cells and agents all over the world, with their plots and plans coming together for a thrilling conclusion.

And in spite of my initial bland feelings toward him, I ended up loving Wells. Despite everything he’s been through, being away from everyone and everything he’s ever loved and suffering losses he didn’t even know about, he could’ve totally been brainwashed by the cause he was helping in order to infiltrate al Qaeda or he could’ve just lost it, but instead, he remained pretty solid morally and true to his original cause. The main reason I had a problem with the whole ex-wife and kid storyline, or lack thereof, is it just seemed tossed in to give him a background, because from the way he’s written and from what we learn from his previous psych tests, it doesn’t really seem like he truly loved his wife or wanted the life he had, so I’m not sure what purpose giving him a family is supposed to have served. That he gave a lot up to do what he does for love of country, maybe? And I can just see some group in the future using his son to get at him, I really hope this doesn’t happen but it seems to be the only purpose this kid will serve ‘cause I don’t really see any chance for a reconciliation between father and son since he’s never really known him and for all intents and purposes, Evan has a father in his stepdad.

I like Ellis Schafer and hope he continues to have a role in future books, but, as I said before, I didn’t really like Jennifer Exley with Wells because, for me, she was pretty much a plain bagel with plain cream cheese. Boring. Aside from the aforementioned complaints, I have no idea why Wells would be interested in her, let alone obsessed for over a decade. She doesn’t add much to his story and isn’t really that interesting of a character. So, if she gets bumped off in a future book in an attempt to elicit shock and anger and fear for John’s sanity from the reader, I’ll probably just end up mentally shrugging my shoulders. There are other characters who I’m much more invested in and want to keep around.

Overall, I thought this was a great start to a promising series (which must be doing well since the seventh installment was just released), filled with action, intrigue and a likeable yet flawed lead and given the state the world’s in, there’s a lot of fodder for the espionage machine which John Wells is a part of and I can’t wait to pick up The Ghost War.(less)

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May 14, 2013 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-reading-club-mike-draper, al-qaeda, author-s-first-book, edgar-award, family-relationships, historical, mike-s-reading-challenge-2013, mystery, own-it, new-york-times-best-seller, read-in-2013, reviewed, signed-edition, terrorists

John Wells is a CIA agent who has penetrated al Qaeda.

His actions have saved the lives of many Americans in Afghanistan while he kept his cover. Then he is called in to see bin Laden's deputy who wants him to return to the US and be part of a terrorist plot there.

Upon his return, some members of the CIA are appreciative of his years undercover but when one of them find John has converted to Islam, he wonders if John has gone over to the other side.

Terrorist activities in the US continues and Joh...more

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Feb 18, 2009 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

For a first time author Berenson does a number of things well:

* He does a nice job of developing his characters; both central and peripheral. Each character is set up with a background and perspective - through vignettes and internal dialogs - that give the reader insight into their mindset as they play their part in the overall story. This give the novel some depth that thrillers often lack; a sense that you are seeing the story from all sides as it plays out.
* Wells’ Islamic conversion exper...more For a first time author Berenson does a number of things well:

* He does a nice job of developing his characters; both central and peripheral. Each character is set up with a background and perspective - through vignettes and internal dialogs - that give the reader insight into their mindset as they play their part in the overall story. This give the novel some depth that thrillers often lack; a sense that you are seeing the story from all sides as it plays out.
* Wells’ Islamic conversion experience in Afghanistan adds a nice element of tension. Wells is sympathetic to Muslim complaints and understands the beauty of their faith but still opposes the terrorists with every fiber in his being. It adds another element of outsiderness to his personality as well.
* Berenson works in contemporary issues into the story but not with a heavy hand. Iraq, terrorism, torture policy, US relations with the world, the bureaucratic nature of the CIA, and more are all touched upon but they provide a backdrop and context not an opportunity to lecture or preach.
* While there is plenty of thriller type action, the overall plot and storyline have a level of plausibility that is rare and frightening. You never find yourself saying: “Oh, that is ridiculous.” Instead, you worry that this type of thing is all too plausible.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of The Faithful Spy is the way Wells’ battle with Khadri develops. Instead of the good guy relentlessly pursuing the bad guy you have a sort of deadly dance as each tries to outmaneuver the other while at the same time pretending to trust each other. And even as the reader sees a much bigger picture than Wells, Berenson still has some twists and turns in store as the plot races to the finish.

If there is a drawback it is the tendency toward overwrought self-analysis by Wells (and others). I am sure Berenson is trying to bring some emotional depth to go with his action but it can come off as a little much at times. But who am I to say what it must feel like to match wits and violence with international terrorists and not lose your soul?

But The Faithful Spy deserves the praise it has received. It really is a classic of the genre; a sort of worst nightmare brought to life in a gripping and entertaining fashion. If you love international thrillers with plots seemingly ripped from the headlines and you haven’t yet read Berenson’s John Wells series be sure to check them out.

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Aug 19, 2009 Rob rated it 4 of 5 stars

John Wells was a former special forces soldier. He fought with the Afghans against the Soviets, went on to Chechnya to fight on the side of the Islamic guerrillas; now he is a spy for the CIA with orders to infiltrate Al Qaeda. With so much time spent in the Islamic world, he has converted to Islam, speaks Arabic fluently, read the Koran and started to believe in its teachings and formed friendships with the other fighters.
He has been sent back to the US with orders from the Al Qaeda leadership,...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Toni Osborne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book 1 in the John Wells series

Mr Berenson's first novel paints a believable, frightening and chilling scenario of how Al-Qaeda might launch a major attack inside America.

The story is about John Wells, an undercover CIA agent, who has been in Afghanistan for many years, his mission was to infiltrate al-Qaeda and gain their trust. He eventually converted to Islam and took the name Jalal and became one of them, so convincingly that his CIA handlers feared he may have crossed the line and become...more

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Dec 18, 2008 Martin Tobias rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: If you care about current events, you MUST read this book

OK. I picked this up at the airport. Was looking for a light airplane read, spy thriller. I got a great thriller and a very engaging read, but not exactly light. You could read it that way if you don't read the newspapers. This one is literally "ripped from the headlines". About a CIA agent under cover with jihadi Islamic extremists trying to prevent the next big attack. We all know it is coming. We all know there are sleepers in the US. This book, although fiction, is a credible and very plausi...more

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Mar 04, 2011 Deb rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, suspense

John Wells is an American agent who infiltrated Al Qaeda--but he didn't warn the agency about 9/11 and he hasn't been heard from in years. So when he resurfaces the agency is distrustful of him--except for his handler, a woman who may have deeper feelings for him than just business. Can Wells redeem himself and prove his loyalty by stopping the next big attack? Will he be able to survive, and will he be able to live with himself if he does?[return]This was a great thrill ride, and had a very con...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Ralph rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spy fiction has changed greatly in the sixty years since le Carre and Hall sent their protagonists into the gritty streets of Europe waging a clandestine war against the various politboros, just as it had changed greatly since the generation before that, when Oppenheim sent his tuxedo-clad protagonists into embassy cocktail parties; nowadays, the world is a much more dangerous place, our enemies are now savage zealots lacking nationalistic identities, and the stakes are higher. One thing, howeve...more Spy fiction has changed greatly in the sixty years since le Carre and Hall sent their protagonists into the gritty streets of Europe waging a clandestine war against the various politboros, just as it had changed greatly since the generation before that, when Oppenheim sent his tuxedo-clad protagonists into embassy cocktail parties; nowadays, the world is a much more dangerous place, our enemies are now savage zealots lacking nationalistic identities, and the stakes are higher. One thing, however, has not changed for the spy working to preserve civilization -- if the bad guys find out who you are, they still shoot you.

In The Faithful Spy the need to stay hidden is the second most important thing to agent John Wells, a CIA operative infiltrated into Qaeda in the period prior to 9/11; the most important thing is to do his job, to protect the United States. Fulfilling both those duties is the source of the conflict within his soul, as well as the source of the conflict between him and his masters, both sets of them. Because he is an American, his fellow Muslims constantly question his loyalty to Qaeda; because he has been in place so long and participated in so many action to prove his loyalty to Qaeda, his CIA handlers wonder if he has not turned on them. In the final analysis, only John Wells knows his own heart. It is that conflict and uncertainty which propels the complex and nuanced plot-lines of this very fine novel from former journalist Alex Berenson, the first in the John Wells series.

The book's action-filled sequences and crisp characterization keeps the reader turning pages, but no less so than Wells' constant moral quandary. Every time Wells is given a mission to prove his loyalty by his Muslim handlers, the reader suffers with Wells as he tries to figure out how to stay in character as an American turncoat and yet not "cross the line." Unlike others around him, Wells is hampered by a moral orientation and a set of scruples that constantly test his ingenuity and determination; in a world where "lines" have been all but obliterated by liberal sophists, Wells still sees lines, and there are some he dare not cross lest be be unfaithful...not to his CIA masters, but to himself. No matter what task he is called upon to perform, no matter what he has to do to stay within his own boundaries, there is one trait he shares with spies of all ages, from Joshua's two secret agents on forward -- he cannot give up.

The Faithful Spy brings spy fiction into the 21st Century, where national divisions are crumbling, where America's traitors and enemies are defended by the ACLU, and where one is constantly left wondering if civilization still worth saving. Like the secret agents who came before him, John Wells is better than his enemies, better than his masters, and better than the very people he has sworn to serve and protect. This book is a wonderful read -- engrossing, suspenseful, exciting and even morally uplifting, but don't let that stop you from reading and enjoying this well written and suspenseful book. As John Wells looks to preserve his faith in country and self, so can you.

(This book was received by the reviewer in a Good Reads giveaway)(less)

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Nov 20, 2012 Bill Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another worthy addition to the spy genre. Spare style that doesn't get overly descriptive yet conveys good information that moves the story along. John Wells is a very believable character, with flaws and limitations, and his victories don't seem superhuman. Not as cerebral as Le Carre's George Smiley, but with a field agent's ability to put two and two together quickly and decisively. The remaining characters are complementary, some as foils for Wells, others as supporting resources, though the...more

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May 19, 2009 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a new author for me. I happened upon this book when I was browsing the Lee Child/Jack Reacher books online. I followed a link for "people who bought this book also bought...", and I'm glad I did.

The hero, John Wells, is an American CIA agent who goes undercover in the Al Queda camps in 1996. I'm not going to give any plot away beyond that.

I found the book to be exciting. Berenson does a good job in letting us get to know John Wells. He contrasts Wells' abilities with the beauracracy of...more

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May 25, 2009 Danika rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-seller, historical-fiction

I put this in the "historical fiction" category that I made but it's more modern day than really "historical" - still, the novel was written with a lot of fact and a lot of research at the base of the book.

Military-style readings are not my style. But from the pick up of this book, it took hold to the point where I didn't want to put it down.

As the book was leading up to the final battle, I found myself on the edge of my seat. I knew the hero would win in the end... but at what cost? Who would l...more

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