Agents of Innocence: A Novel

I was first turned on to this novel by an actual CIA recruiter. He said that it was the most true to life representation of the lives of CIA operations officers. Ignatius' extensive research really rings through, and allows the reader to become immersed in a world of espionage, deceit, and betrayal. Highly recommended.

Amazing read. I just finished reading this book, and I am very much planning to read more of David's novels (as this was the first one I've read). From beginning to end nothing can be assumed in this book. It gave a very realistic feel to the spy game and to middle east politics. Though it takes places years ago the story could have taken place today. It's sad to see how little has changed in this area of the world. Agents of Innocence gives the reader a inside look at the geopolitics of the middle east and how the CIA, Mossad, Fatah and other groups operate and interoperate. Very good morale tale, and ending. I just loved it. Thanks David for a great book and some very fine writing and for my friends who gave it to me as a christmas present. How well you know I'd love this book.

I stumbled on Mr. Ignatius last year and was sufficiently impressed with his writing to read all his novels in print. Since I'd been reading about the Middle East extensively for a couple of years, especially the history of American involvement in support of Israel, I found this novel particularly interesting. Mr. Ignatius' book may not be history, but it surely has the ring of truth in its depiction of how American interests in the region influenced its relationship with Arabs in Lebanon and elsewhere. There is little wonder in my mind that Americans are held in disrepute by so many in Arab countries. We've earned it by both our actions and our failure to act. We may like to depict ourselves as the honest broker, the defender of liberty, but it is only a naive person unfamiliar with history who can voice such an opinion with a straight face. This book is worth reading. His other books are entertaining as well.

Agents Of Innocense is guaranteed to be a page turner. It is a wonderful spy story. Being from Lebanon myself, I can tell that the author not only has spent a great deal of time living in the Middle East, but he shares a bond with its culture. I have read one other David Ignatius novel, A Firing Offence, and am reading SIRO now, and became fascinated by his writing style. It is very descriptive and elegant and it prepares the reader for the plot by charging the reader with emotions for and against all the characters of the story. Agents Of Innocence is a fantastic novel set in Lebanon describing very vividly the political atmosphere of the Middle East starting in the 60's and culminating with the explosion that destroyed the American Embassy in Beirut, as well as the changes in the CIA that lead to that. The events of the novel are from the point of view of a CIA case officer who loved the Middle East, understood its people and spoke their language fluently. He managed to penetrate the most dominant branch of the Palestinian resistance, and established relationships where none could ever have been conceived. Enjoy it

I have an extensive background in security and intelligence and there is no finer fiction available about the CIA and the Middle East during the 1970's-1980's. It is considered to be the most accurate and realistic book of its kind, and it has maintained its ranking on the mandatory reading list of those in the field for over two decades. The fact that it is also a truly outstanding read goes without saying!!