‘One of the beat spy thrillers in years’ as stated by the Times and on the front cover is quite an accolade and gives you a high expectation before you start……
And it was good…its a very complex read, as spy/CIA books can be, complex as in many characters who come and go in the story, often related and often double dealing, it’s not a book to relax 5 mins at bed but takes some effort and determination….which then rewards you with this high stakes high tension tale
The info gathered to write the book is more than impressive ( we find out at the end in the authors very interesting letter to readers he is ex CIA ) and the history and modern day Assad run Syria is exemplary in it’s facts and descriptive nature, I felt I was in Damascus for the whole time I was reading it, the explanation of tradecraft fascinating and the intricate nature of being a spy told so you really understood the life changing and all encompassing role it is, the story based on factual events with licence
My only little gripe would be the use of the words, snorted, ( everyone seemed to do it when talking ) and clotted ( everything from leaves to ashtrays) a tiny thing but noticeable
It’s good,very good and I will be reading Book 2 and 3 😎


Updated review as re read Nov 2023 and featured in my FB group

Written by a former CIA agent, David McCloskey gives a fascinating insight into Assad's Syria and the brutality that it brings to their own people.
This book somehow manages to fall into four different genres, spy novel, thriller, love story and historical.
This grabbed me from the off and pulled me in to the extent that I found this book difficult to put down. Fortunately I read this whilst on holiday lying on a sunbed..
Book one in a two part series, away to read book two "Moscow" now. All plans cancelled for the next couple of days. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC and apologies it took me so long to read it.

A slowish start picked up immediately once the high stakes involved for our heroine came into focus. A brilliant analysis of 'everyday' life (an impossible achievement) for these characters and for the country we are learning about. There are longueurs but not many! Local matters are explored but even if they are not wholly necessary to narrative drive, they are compelling reading. Go for it!

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Loved this and hope it will be part of a series. A well written spy thriller that would translate really well on screen

It is a well written novel, with punchy dialogue that rings true, and the descriptive writing brings the scenes to life.

I raced through this book, a really unique approach to thriller writing and one that feels very authentic to the actual tradecraft of the world of espionage and counter espionage. I learnt a lot about the inner workings of power within Syria. Highly recommend.

A debut novel set within the world of spies. Full of intrigue, characters and locations which are all extremely believable. There is a fair bit going on in this and it demands that attention be paid, probably best not to skim read if that's your thing, or else it may get a bit confusing. A really good page turner which will grip the reader and hopefully an indication of more to come from the author.
Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my advance copy in exchange for my review.

Written by a former CIA member this novel has a thread of authenticity flowing through it. Set mainly in Assad’s Syria the story follows the relationship between Sam a CIA operative and Mariam a Syrian national who he recruits to pass information. Life in modern Syria and the dangers people face on a day to day basis are portrayed with great realism and provide the backdrop to Sam and Marian’s growing professional and personal relationship.
The plot held my attention throughout and I recommend this book as strong modern espionage novel

There is a grand tradition of former spies going on to write spy novels – Ian Fleming and John Le Carre are probably two of the best known. But there are also authors like Stella Rimington (most recently – The Devil’s Bargain) , Joe Weisberg (An Ordinary Spy but also The Americans TV series) and Jack Beaumont (The Frenchman). Into this world steps former CIA Analyst David McCloskey with Damascus Station a novel of espionage and counter-espionage set in Syria at the start of its bloody civil war.
CIA operative Sam Joseph is coming back from the loss of a colleague and is tapped to recruit a potential source in the Syrian Government. Mariam Haddad works in the Palace but her uncle is also involved in a secret chemical weapons program. Sam manages to recruit Mariam but not without breaking one of the cardinal rules of running an agent – he falls for her. Back in Syria, Sam must run Mariam to get vital information in a country riven by paranoia, corruption and a growing civil war.
Damascus Station is an effective thriller but will probably be appreciated most by people with a fascination with the details of spy craft. Sam has to train Mariam in the ins and outs of being a spy but then also has to dig deep into his own training when the Syrians deploy a group of experts to watch him. Meanwhile the question of what happens to intelligence that is gathered, how it is used politically but also the layers of agents and double agents that make the job even harder.
While this boils down a little to good versus evil, McKloskey tries to being some nuance to his Syrian characters. While there are those who are just bloodthirsty and revelling in a despotic regime, there are others who start to question where their choices have lead them. He also dips into the Syrian resistance to give a sense of what was driving people towards religious extremism as a response to the Assad regime. And while it is not a true story, many of the events described in Damascus Station did occur in some fashion in Syria between 2011 and 2012.
But at its heart, the narrative is driven by a potentially doomed love story. Sam and Mariam “break the rules” to give what might otherwise be a very technical heavy story some real heart. Other personal relationships – between Sam and his colleagues and Mariam and her family – serve to humanise the story.
Damascus Station succeeds though in its verisimilitude. It has enough detail to make readers feel like they are learning something about the world of spies and espionage, still alive and well following the end of the cold war. And McKloskey manages to set up and deploy this knowledge in a way that builds to both a fascinating and page-turning final couple of acts.

Really tense thriller set in Syria, fictional but with some connections to real events. Some gruesome descriptions and lots of danger and suspense. A great read.

This was a really solid CIA thriller. It was very fast paced and thrilling! You can tell that the author used to be in the CIA the character felt very real. I read this book very quickly and found it very enjoyable!

This was a fast-paced, gripping spy thriller that is not for the faint-hearted! The plot and characters felt realistic and, as a result, kept me engaged until the end. This is an exceptional debut from what appears to be an extremely talented writer and I look forward to reading more of David McCloskey's work in the future.

This is a brilliant debut novel, written by a former CIA analyst, who apparently has real time experience of his job, knows Damascus, and the sights and sounds of war. A fast moving spy thriller, told with feelings and understandings of the lies that have to be told and the secrets that must be kept, even if this means leaving a valued friend behind to be captured and tortured.
There is a historical examination of how this particular war came about, and the consequences for the native peoples. A strong affinity for the people, their language and culture is conveyed so well, the locations , this man admires this land.
The plot was complicated and great concentration was needed, due to the sheer amount of names and locations being introduced. You had to really pay attention to who was considered trustworthy, and where loyalties lie. There were moral questions asked, how far is a person willing to go to enjoy freedoms that we take for granted? It wasn’t especially aimed at females, but asked honest questions about what you owe to family as against the state.
Torture is conveyed in quite graphic terms, maybe not for the squeamish, but necessary for the story, and an accurate account of such evil.
A fast paced thriller, it reminded me of other favourite authors, Phillip Kerr and Daniel Silva. A very accomplished start to what I hope will become a series to look out for.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Swift Press, for my advanced digital copy. This is my honest review. I will also leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon later.

Solid spy thriller with interesting characters and a gripping plot. I can really recommend this book.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

There was a lot to like about this book. Fast-paced with plenty of drama. I loved the descriptions of Damascus, a city that I long to return to. I’ve read reviews that criticize the book for being too bogged down with descriptions of the people and scenery but it was that aspect that I enjoyed the most. As expected, a book written by a former CIA analyst has a strong pro-American bias. There were parts that didn’t seem entirely plausible but it was still an enjoyable read.

Samuel Joseph is a CIA officer who recruits Mariam but he breaks all the rules when he falls in love with her. They are in extreme danger in Damascus but information gained is vital if lives are to be saved or avenged. Torture guaranteed if captured.

Fast paced novel with great characters and plot line. Violence is part of the danger they are under never mind the stress. Loved the attention to detail and so glad not my chosen career. Enjoy.

A really good read, nervy and edgy and possibly too close to home in terms of what the secret services actually do. Great characterisation, locations painted clearly in my imagination and a twist that I never saw coming and and a perfect ending. There were some sections that seemed a little long and slow, but they did not detract from this excellent read that kept me going and not wanting to put it down. Well worth investing your time and effort in!

As a fan of the genre, I knew I'd enjoy this from the description. The plot was clever, there were poingant moments from the very beginning and some thrilling page turner parts. Though I think Mariam is supposed to come across as a victim, i found her untrustworthy and a bit annoying; I had more sympathy for Razan. I'd not read anything set in Syria before so the political situation in Syria was really interesting. I also liked that there was a focus on spying techniques. After reading the novel, i have a newfound appreciation and reverence for spies and their agents and the risks they take on.

3/5 Good

A very well written slow burning spy thriller that harks back to the masters of the past.

Whilst I enjoyed the book, and the distinctly authentic feel that comes with it, I didn’t find myself drawn to the characters or indeed the story.

There is much that is good though and I would read more if this was to be a series. It just felt a little bit flat and one paced at times.