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    The Shadow Patrol
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    The Shadow Patrol
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    The Shadow Patrol
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Shadow Patrol

    Written by Alex Berenson

    Narrated by George Guidall

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In 2009, the CIA's Kabul Station fell for a source who promised to lead it to Bin Laden, but instead he blew himself up, taking the station's most senior officers with him. Now, more than two years later, the station is still floundering, agents are dying, and at Langley the CIA's chiefs wonder if the unthinkable has happened, if somehow the Taliban has infiltrated the station.

    When they ask John Wells to investigate, he reluctantly agrees to return to the country where his career as an undercover operative began. But there, he finds a vipers' nest of hostility and mistrust-and clues that hint at a drug-trafficking operation involving the Agency, the military, and the Taliban. Americans are dying, and an American is responsible. And only John Wells stands in his way . . . for now.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 21, 2012
    ISBN9781101538463
    Unavailable
    The Shadow Patrol
    Author

    Alex Berenson

    Alex Berenson is a former New York Times reporter whose work led to federal indictments and billions of dollars in corporate fines. His bestselling, Edgar Award-winning John Wells spy novels have sold more than a million copies.

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    Reviews for The Shadow Patrol

    4/5

    29 ratings26 reviews

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    • 5/5


      Really enjoyable. I also like the main character, he isn't like many of the cookie-cutter heroes right out of central casting. I also appreciate that Berenson includes a view of Islam in his stories that touch the Muslim world.
    • 3/5
      I like the subject matter here. I think my lower review comes from the fact that I read this book without any experience with the other books featuring the John Wells character. All of the characterization of Wells relies heavily on what happened in previous books. I may well pick up those books and maybe I'll feel different about this book in the future. The other knock on this book was the obvious and pat ending.
    • 4/5
      Good, action-packed mystery set in present day Afganistan. The writing is crisp and orderly. The mystery unfolds in a plausible way. Perhaps the only real shortcoming is the ending where the hero acquires super powers. I will read more of Berenson's work.
    • 5/5
      good reading but I liked the first one in series best.
    • 5/5
      Even though this book has a very good rating on Goodreads, I've read some fairly lukewarm reviews and I have to say that I'm somewhat mystified. I thought this was another excellent John Wells novel by Alex Berenson. In this one, the CIA station in Afghanistan is in tatters because a double agent blew up a number of CIA agents in one sitting (based on a factual story) and it's never recovered. Now there's reason to believe there's a mole in the unit, so Wells is brought in to go over there to see if he can discover anything. And he's met with overt hostility by the CIA people there. So he heads out into the Afghanistan wilderness, where he encounters some bad guys. He travels to a US military base to give a speech and hears rumors that the military and the CIA are in league with the Taliban, of all organizations, to sell heroin, and that there are special forces people involved too. Working with his old CIA boss back in the US, Wells finds out info that is crucial to his finding those involved and, of course you know he's going to save the day in the end, but it's pretty exciting to see it come to pass in the pages as you read. This isn't Berenson's best Wells novel, but it's pretty good. It sure kept me reading. And I learned a lot about Afghanistan and the military role over there, as well as the CIA. The thing I love about the author is he always seems to write the most realistic thrillers I've ever read, besting his contemporaries by far. Maybe it's his training as a reporter with the New York Times, or maybe he's just gifted, but I really appreciate that about him. I feel like I can trust his books, even though I know they're fiction. I'm giving this book five stars and I certainly recommend it.
    • 3/5
      The (unfortunate) uneveness of Berenson's stories continues. With The Shadow Patrol, the entire premise just didn't seem to be that engaging and for the first chunk of the book, the reader is left with a sort of "ho hum" or "why bother" feeling. As the story progressed, it became more interesting, but several sections just seemed not to fit terribly well into the overall story. Most unfortunate, I suppose, is that I was able to identity "the bad guy" about three pages after the character was first mentioned so there was little surprise. With that said, this was an interesting portrayal of what military life in Afghanistan is like.
    • 4/5
      Much better book than I had expected. It wasn't laced with the typical neo-con nonsense usually associated with these types of thrillers. John Wells seemed like an interesting character although a little farfetched in his beliefs and attitudes. I'll definitely read the next one in the series.
    • 5/5
      This is my introduction to John Wells and I look forward to reading the previous volumes that Mr. Berenson has written with Wells as the main character. I found the book to be interesting, well written, and to be very plausible.John Wells id an ex-CIA agent who is tasked with going back to Afghanistan to look at the problems within the CIA station there. The job comes along at the time that Wells is trying to start a new relationship with his son. His investigation leads to activities that the CIA should not be involved in and has troops involved in illegal activity and possibly working with some of the tribes that are fighting American troops. Berenson does an excellent job of switching scenes and characters so that the reader knows what is going on at the same time in other areas of the story. It is just not told from Wells point of view.There are bad guys in the story but I do not believe there are any villains. The characters are doing what they think is right for themselves and do not see much past their own interests. It is an intriguing and interesting story that is well written. I look forward to reading more of Alex Berenson.
    • 4/5
      The Shadow Patrol is the first Alex Berenson book I have read. I will certainly read more. I have been an avid reader of Ludlum and Clancy for many years and have been missing a similar author whose books are more relevant. Berenson’s The Shadow Patrol fills that void. John Wells is a complex hero. Berenson’s glimpse of the man’s past sprinkled through the book makes me eager to learn more. If you are a fan of military thrillers, this book is for you.
    • 5/5
      ii was one of those books that you can't put down until the end...Well done...can't wait for the next one.LOVED IT.
    • 4/5
      This is the sixth book featuring CIA man John Wells. Of all the CIA/spy thrillers, the John Wells books seem to be the best that I have read. Wells is a smart and capable guy but not the super man that some of the others make their characters to be and he honestly questions himself and what he is doing--a nice change. The secondary characters are also well rounded, like Ellis Shafer and Vinny Duto at the CIA. This book didn't have the huge, far-reaching plot that are seen in the first three or four books but still a good read. I found that this book took a little longer to set up so that it does start slowly but picks up about halfway in. This time, the story picks up after several agents at the CIA station in Kabul are blown up by a suicide bomber who was supposed to be helping them. After years of trying to rebuild that station, something seems amiss. Duto calls on John Wells to do some digging as there is some suspicion that there is a mole over in the office. Wells uncovers several layers of a complicated plot before the satisfying ending. There aren't many strings left dangling at the end of this book to lead into another book featuring Wells but one can hope.
    • 4/5
      I received an advance copy of this book. Though I normally don't read many military thrillers I did enjoy the Shadow Patrol. John Wells is a CIA operative who is called back to Kabal (where he started his career) to investigate what happened to an operative and just how much the Taliban knows about what we are doing in the Middle East. It is obvious that Alex Berenson's former life as a journalist adds to his knowledge of the area and CIA. It is also clear that the Americans are not always the good guys. It is how he uses this knowledge to craft a terrifying story that is all too believable that is worrisome. Fast paced and easily a favorite of any reader who loves Vince Flynn, Daniel Silva and Tom Clancy.
    • 3/5
      Another taut John Wells spy thriller. Wells, morally ambiguous, religiously conflicted, relationally challenged, but operationally a killing machine machine is back doing what he does best: sniffing out trouble, and bring down the hurt. This time it is back to Afghanistan, and all the players are dirty. Recommended for lovers of spy and military genres, others can take a bye.
    • 4/5
      This is the first John Wells Novel that I have read. I am not a big fan on jumping into a series. But I do have to say I still really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the whole series.
    • 4/5
      John Wells, CIA trouble shooter is sent to Kabul, Afghanistan when there is trouble at the CIA station in Kabul.An Arab had pretended to become a spy for the CIA but blew himself up and killed many CIA officers. There wer also US soldiers dealing drugs with the Taliban and a possilbe mole.Wells knows the language and the territory so goes undercover and meets with a tribal leader active in the area to try to find if there was a mole.Good action, good characters and a realistic description of the area I think Kabul would be like.
    • 4/5
      Another enjoyable thriller from Alex Berenson. He writes about the Middle East conflict in a very knowledgeable manner that makes you feel for all of the characters, even the villains. The book is set in Afghanistan during the current conflict with the Taliban. The story is about a problem within the CIA field office in Kabul. The story is about uncovering the person who is behind the plot within the field office.
    • 5/5
      I won this book from LibraryThing as a November Bonus from Early Review and I am so glad I did. I enjoyed it so much because it was a good read, good plots, great characters. I could not put this book down because I had to find out what happened on the next page. You know those books where you say just one more chapter and I will go to sleep and before you know it the sun comes up. Start this book early in the day or you will see the sun come up. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
    • 4/5
      This is a book I won to review for Library Early Reviewers. This is also my first read by Alex Berenson. I enjoyed the book as it followed an easy flow and the plot developed as the story progressed. I liked the characters and the background that adds depth to the story. I will read more books by Alex Berenson in the future.
    • 5/5
      John Wells returns in The Shadow Patrol, and Alex Berenson has delivered another great thriller. Berenson’s knowledge of the Middle East and Afghanistan adds a level of grittiness and reality to the story for a depth that isn’t always there in other thrillers.In Shadow Patrol, John Wells must look for a mole in the CIA’s operations in Afghanistan. A drug trafficking conspiracy involving the military, the CIA and the Taliban leave Wells once again uncertain who he can rely on. Hidden agendas lie under the motives on all sides, and lives will continue to be lost unless Wells can uncover the secrets.John Wells is one of the most complex and interesting characters around. He struggles with his decisions and the morals of his actions. As in real life, nothing is ever black and white and things rarely neatly resolve themselves. He is smart, skilled, and athletic, but he is not perfect. He has limitations and he makes mistakes. Plans don’t always work out perfectly, and there are consequences when they don’t. The complex characters and detailed descriptions of the locales and operations involved make this book a cut above most thrillers and spy novels. The pacing isn’t breakneck, but it is steady and keeps the pages turning. There is real tension in the action sequences that keep you guessing how things will turn out. You may or may not be able to guess some of the secrets, but even if you do, the journey to get to them is rewarding in itself.Alex Berenson has become a must read author, and John Wells an iconic character. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of The Shadow Patrol, and it has cemented Berenson’s well-deserved reputation. Highly recommended for any fan of thrillers and spy novels.
    • 4/5
      This was a perfectly adequate spy novel, with most of the key plot elements that readers of the likes of Daniel Silva et al have come to expect. Once again, John Wells pursues bad guys, with the novel spelling out who they are and the nature of the chase. Berenson does a perfunctory job of adding depth to Wells's character by starting the book with his attempt to bond with his long-estranged son, but that fell odd as the plot element went nowhere. While rather well written as spy novels go, this isn't one of those books that are able to transcend the genre in which they are written. Wells is still emotionally damaged by all the violence he has seen; he is still wrestling with his conversion to Islam and his loyalty to the US and his friends in the CIA. In this case, he is recalled to duty by old friend Elliot Schafer and dispatched to Afghanistan to identify rogue Special Forces folks and other military who are engaged in drug smuggling -- and to identify who a CIA mole might be. Like most of the other books, this is more action-driven than anything else -- Wells may be a tortured soul in some ways, bu the brisk pace of events leaves no time to give the reader any more insight into his state of mind much less that of any other characters. The result is an excellent book to read on a plane or the beach -- a kind of "read it and forget it" novel that offers moderate thrills. If you're hankering after another 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", however, this ain't it. I've given it 3.7 stars and rounded down; I get the feeling that Berenson is teetering on the edge of becoming one of those thriller writers who end up wedded to a formula. Personally, I'd rather wait two years between books and get a richer and more intense book than read another book that is OK, but which could have been so much more.
    • 5/5
      This is the sixth John Wells novel and Berenson shows no signs of slowing down! The plot development continues to be intricate but more importantly, believable. John Wells is like a fine red wine, he just gets better with age. Kabul station in "Asscrackistan" is still trying to recover from a suicide bomber two years earlier. Americans are dying and the CIA wonders if there is a Taliban mole in the station. John Wells is sent to investigate and discovers an illegal American drug smuggling operation. Delta sniper Daniel Francesca heads the drug-trafficking operation and knows Wells is on his tale and relishes the challenge!Berenson, a New York Times reporter, weaves several plot lines among his cast of characters as he leads to an exciting finish. His characters and story lines are rich and deeply developed though at times brutally realistic and not for the feint of heart. While many series start "getting old" by the fifth or sixth book, John Wells just now seems to be hitting his stride (reminds me of how Walt Longmire just keeps getting better and better after seven books in Craig Johnson's wonderful series). If you like novels featuring terrorists, intrigue, deep characters, and well developed plot lines this book is for you. If you have not read any of the John Wells books, I suggest reading the first book, "The Faithful Spy" it won the Edgar award for first best novel back in 2007.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was pretty good. It really focused on the 'mole hunt' and didn't include too many other plot lines, but I like the John Wells series and have read many of Berenson's books. This book was an entertaining and relaxing read and I definitely enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book in the John Wells saga that I have read. The storyline and writing style reminds me quite a bit of the early Tom Clancy novels which I loved. I really like the John Wells character (although he is a bit of a stereotypical tough guy) and the storyline was great. I particularly like the author's writing from multiple perspectives and bringing them all together in the end (although I would have liked for it to have come together a bit tighter in the end). Other than a few slow spots the book was fantastic. I highly recommend it and plan to read the other John Wells books in the near future.
    • 2/5
      The Shadow Patrol is another installment in the life of John Wells. However, unlike the other books, this one was disappointing. It began with John questioning his path resulting from an attempt to reconnect with his son. The story built up to an exciting crescendo, with John looking for a rogue CIA agent and corrupt American soldiers. However, the ending was very disappointing. After an exciting build up, with a convincing interwoven plot with several different subplots, it just ended, all neatly tied up. All the questioning, reasoning and rationale for the build up, just put to rest without a look back. While I will read another installment of John Wells, it will not be on the top of my must read list.
    • 4/5
      Another entry in the saga of our hero, John Wells. This time, Wells goes after America's own, soldiers who are dealing drugs. I found this tale a bit different than the earlier entries and quite enjoyable. There are a few slow spots, but otherwise, a good read and addition to the series.Thanks LTBob in Chicago
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed this book Immensley. John Wells has been called on again by Vinnie Duto and EllisShafer of the CIA. The CIA station in Kabul is in disarray. Two years ago an Arab agent, "Marburg," proved to be a double agent when he blew himself and 9 CIA officials up at a meeting. Kabul has been through several station heads in the intervening years and intelligence gathering is not going well. The impetus for Wells' summoning is chatter recovered by the NSA that hints at a turncoat in the Kabul station and dealing in heroin by CIA personnel and rogue special forces Delta operatives. Their is a wealth of information on the Afghanistan War and U.S. participation and tactics. The book held my interest from start to finish. The plot was very realistic and action packed. I look forward to another John Wells novel by Berenson.