Damascus Station
By David McCloskey

One of the best - and most authentic - spy thrillers in years'and The Times***THE TIMESand THRILLER OF THE YEAR***SECOND NOVELand MOSCOW Xand AVAILABLE NOWTHIRD NOVELand THE SEVENTH FLOORand AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDERA CIA officer and his recruit arrive in Damascus to hunt for a killerCIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy.But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.PRAISE FORand DAMASCUS STATION:'Simply marvellous storytelling...a stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre'and -and Financial Times'The best spy novel I have ever read'and - General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA For the most accurate fictional account of what life is like working in today's intelligence services, forget John Le Carre and read David McCloskey's thrillingand Damascus Station'and - Sir John Sawers, ex-Head of MI6