Direct Action: A Covert War Thriller

I kept having to remind myself that I am reading fiction, because this novel is so authentic. From the dsyfunctional CIA that is run by careerist bureaucrats who then have to "outsource" and "offshore" the work to ex-agents, to depictions of what a real Israeli interrogation cell is like on the inside, I found this novel to be excellent. It has the ring of truth to it. I also like it that the main character is not an expert in everything all at once. At one point, the author states that Tom has not shot a gun in 10 years. That to me is more realistic than the "Bourne" type guy, who, next to being able to speak Russian, German, French, and Thai fluently, also is a killer with a gun, and also has ridiculous martial arts skills that it would take 10 years of intense study to attain, etc. No one can be good at everything. I really like this realistic novel of the reality of how the world works. The line by the Israeli about the U.S. being too soft on terrorists and criminals in general (letting murders get degrees from inside prison, as if they are in college, etc.) is bound to be disliked by liberals, but I also doubt that many liberals are going to read this book. I liked it a lot. To me, the book has the ring of the authentic. And I am the kind of guy who likes to read novels and then point out stuff that is not consistent with reality (handguns referred to as "automatic pistols", etc. The author doesn't do any of that).

The bumbling CIA, and outsourced retired agents winning the day, has become a cliche in this genre. This book however, is well writen, and provides a special insight into the Israli/Jewish, special forces, situation and mindset.

If only a fraction of what John Weisman says of the incompetence and bungling of the CIA, the United States faces serious problems. To Weisman's credit, he is a skilled storyteller. He begins with a highly publicized fact about the CIA and then weaves the story further. The question is whether what he weaves is true or not? But, of course, "Direct Action" is a novel, a thriller and a very good one at that. The initial theme is that the CIA has grown so incompetent after its devesatation in the 1990s that even its most basic intelligence gathering functions must now be outsourced, primarily to former CIA employees. One of these, McGee, has developed a source in Gaza. Told that he needs photographic evidence of a certain terrorist reputed to be in Gaza, McGee is blown into smithereens on his way there. Enter Marilyn Jean O'Connor, an analyst in the Counterterrorist Phtoto Interpretation Group at the CIA. One almost suspects that Weisman included this ultimately minor character in order to heap more abuse on the CIA. But MJ does serve a pair of small purposes beyond depicting an organization that can't do anything right: she further identifies the mysterious terrorist who allegedly doesn't exist and she leads us to her boyfriend, Tom Stafford. Stafford, formerly CIA, now works for 4627, one of the private companies providing the CIA with its human gathered intelligence. Stafford is an appealing hero. Smart, but not too smart. Cynical, but not too cynical. And possessed of a very workmanlike manner in his spying. Conveniently, MJ is due to visit boyfriend Stafford in Paris and she just happens to bring along the classified material identifying the terrorist which the CIA has rejected. Yeah, MJ is a little loose when it comes to following orders, but you know how it is. Weisman is to be forgiven this major stretch: he had to make the story work. Even more conveniently, at the same time MJ is arriving in Paris, Tom is tipped by a long time informant about --- you guessed it --- a mysterious terrorist who, by the way, has developed a sneaky new way of making virtually undetectable bombs. The informant is shot dead as he walks with Tom. Weisman moves his story along quickly. Once the preliminaries are over, he shifts into an even higher gear and "Direct Action" becomes a total page-turner. The action moves from Paris to Israel to Paris to Washington. There's lots of spycraft involved; plenty of double-crosses and close escapes and the clock ticking down to the next major-league terrorist attack. Weisman, in a word, is superb. The plot, though it has a few small black holes, is tightly woven. The backstories about the CIA are frightening. The characters are interesting. All in all, a truly well done thriller. And if wht Weisman writes about the CIA is true even in substantial part, a very frightening thriller. Jerry

Mr Weisman's latest novel is outstanding. A very well written story covering the turbulence of the intelligence community of the United States. Few can cover the special operations and covert-clandestine worlds better than Mr Weisman. He has related the "second" front of the intelligence war - ourselves. Giving up spies for satelites, tradecraft for technology, and a reliance on zero defect mentality vice leadership. The story fills in the gaps since the day America changed, September 11th, to present time. It is not always fun to read if you have half your brain tuned into the current events. It will upset you with pretty accurate description of managers and bureaucrats poorly filling in for leaders and opertives and re-assure you that many sleep well in their beds at night for the few warriors that man the "walls" remain. The set up and flow is excellent. The explanation supportive to the story, not tedious or insulting. The theme is clear and well presented. If you enjoy the covert action story that is clearly related to our present situation as a nation of people, you will enjoy this book. If you do not regulary enjoy this kind of reading, take a chance on this one - it is well worth the time.

Direct Action is, without a doubt, the most entertaining book I've read in a year. John Weisman is well known for leveraging his deep connections in the intelligence community and a thorough commitment to authentic detail while writing his novels... His knowledge of tradecraft, history and current events is remarkable -- and he masterfully weaves them all together...making the reader wonder if the story is fact or fiction. The result, in this case, is that Direct Action is one of the most authentic, insightful, and exciting spy novels in print today. You'll love it.