This is a superb, behind the scenes look at what went into the hunt for bin Laden. While impossible to get the whole truth due to most of the information being still classified, Wallace was able to interview almost all the important players from the tippy top of government, intelligence officials, Seals who participated in the planning and execution of the raid, family members of those killed on 9/11, as well as people in Abbottabad.

Hindsight being twenty-twenty and all, it's remarkable how many signs we have missed in regards to our elected officials. We, as Americans, are capable of great things but are just as capable of being the stupidest country.

I finished this book about 2 weeks ago, before the newest round of Afghanistan trouble. It is painfully apparent everyone throughout this war has been wrong at least a few times and anyone who pretends otherwise is not being honest. Unfortunately that seems to be the norm these days.

I would like to thank NetGalley as well as Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy of Countdown bin Laden!

A thoroughly gripping book about the long CIA search, potential discovery, and ultimate death of bin Laden by American SEALS. From my perspective, the book puts flesh on the bones of the various characters portrayed in the brilliant Zero Dark Thirty movie.
I loved the way that the author counts down the days to the commencement of the near-impossible mission to capture or kill the world's most wanted terrorist. In hindsight, it now seems hard to believe that the SEAL team successfully completed a complex raid across the Pakistan border, into a highly militarised area without any casualties. The amount of detailed planning and risk mitigation plans that were put in place were truly awe-inspiring. One small niggle - I would have preferred to have read less about some of the minor politicians involved in the periphery of the raid, and more about the military characters (and the dog) who were on the front line of the action.
Sadly, this book is being released at an especially poignant time - the Taliban are again violently taking over Afghanistan following the rapid withdrawal of US and other allied troops. Having a son who served with the RAF in Afghanistan, I now wonder if the deaths and injuries of our young servicemen and servicewomen were in vain.
In summary a super read, with lots of fascinating background details.

This was a wonderful book that gives a detailed, blow by blow look at the capture of a terrible human.

Also, my only criticism is in chapter Countdown: 93 Days. The author makes reference to "Barksdale Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas." The truth is that Barksdale Air Force Base is located in northwest Louisiana.