CODE: DAGGER - The Watchman Protocol

by Mark Rayam

338 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Yuvraj Bajaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This team is unforgettable. Shadow, Blaze, Mirage—all intriguing characters with real weight. Please tell me this is book one of many.

[Aeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a strange kind of stillness that comes after releasing a thriller into the world. You spend months — maybe years — building tension, plotting betrayals, unravelling secrets... and then, suddenly, it’s out there. No more edits. No more control. Just silence.

And then — someone reads it.

This week, I came across a few reviews on Goodreads. Thoughtful ones. Honest ones. A couple that caught me off guard in the best way. It’s surreal, realising that characters who once lived only in your head have now slipped into someone else’s imagination. And stayed there.

I don’t take it lightly. In a world full of noise, someone chose to spend time inside this story. That's a gift. I just wanted to say thank you — to the readers, the reviewers, the quiet supporters who never tag or post, but turn the page anyway.

By the grace of something bigger than me, this book has found a few good homes. That’s enough to keep writing. And I am.

Back in the shadows now. The next chapter is watching.

[Kabir Bhardwaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mind-Bending Espionage Thriller!
Rayam takes espionage to an unsettlingly real level. “The Watchman Protocol” isn’t just about bullets—it’s about beliefs. The psychological warfare and information manipulation portrayed here feel terrifyingly close to reality. An intense, cinematic ride!

[MyraLuthra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Concept! Thought Control > Gunfights
I expected action—and got it—but what stuck was the concept. The idea that wars of the future will be fought with data, not weapons, is brilliantly explored. Ray Aeden is now one of my favorite spy characters.

[RudraTalwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For Thinkers, Not Just Thrill-Seekers
This isn’t just your typical spy novel. It challenges your understanding of freedom, media, and modern warfare. Chillingly brilliant and deeply relevant to today’s world."

[Samar Duggal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Stop Pace + Deep Ideas
The plot moves FAST—from Casablanca to Zurich, and the adrenaline doesn’t dip. But what hit me hardest was how plausible the Watchman Protocol felt. Great writing, fantastic pacing, unforgettable stakes.

[Ishika Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Is the New Bond
Commander Ray Aeden = cooler, darker, and more real than Bond or Bourne. Loved the DAGGER team’s dynamic, and the stakes were refreshingly psychological.

[Kunal Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark Reflection of Our World
Media control. Algorithmic propaganda. Thought manipulation. This book scared me in the best way. It’s fiction, but not far off from reality.

[Ira Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

High-Octane Spy Thriller with Brains
Rayam does an excellent job blending tech, politics, and raw action. It’s like reading Mission Impossible with the philosophical depth of Orwell. LOVED IT.

[Vivaan Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep State Meets Digital Dictatorship
A gripping reminder of how vulnerable our minds can be in the wrong hands. Couldn’t put it down.

[NainaRathore · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ll Question Everything
Halfway through, I paused and asked: “What if this is already happening?” It’s that powerful. The Watchman isn’t a villain—it’s a system. Terrifying genius.

[Aarav Jindal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espionage Reinvented
Forget Cold War clichés. This is cutting-edge spy fiction for the digital age. Rayam is redefining the genre.

[Simran Sethia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a movie script—but with philosophical undertones. Action + intelligence = pure gold.

[Avni Khanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening in Casablanca to the final pages in New Delhi, this book gripped me. Fresh concept. Flawless execution.

[Shaurya Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rayam’s story feels like a prophecy. The Watchman Protocol may be fiction, but the tools to make it real already exist.

[Tara Malhotra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic espionage vibes but with a modern twist. If you liked The Day of the Jackal, this one’s for you.

[Devansh Kapoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The psychological manipulation in this book is so well crafted, I got chills. Not from fear—but from recognition.

[Anaya Singhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do thrillers make you think this hard. Rayam delivers both plot and philosophy with style.

[Rajveer Tandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The spycraft is so believable, I wouldn’t be surprised if DAGGER actually exists. Rayam’s research is top-notch.

[Kavya Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re living in an age of digital propaganda. This book is a masterclass in showing what that war might look like when it goes global.

[Raina Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just a debut—it’s a declaration. Rayam knows how to thrill, how to disturb, and how to make readers think. I’m officially a fan.