McCloskey just gets better and better with every book. He writes about CIA tradecraft with the authority of someone who's been there, and in his third outing the writing is sharper, characters are better rendered, and the pacing is tighter. If there are still a few scenes that feel like they owe more to movies than reality, the book is largely grounded and kept me invested from start to finish.

McCloskey acknowledges his debt to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy -- which the story does, for a while, too closely mirror. But if he isn't yet in John Le Carre's league, he seems to be well on his way.

David McCloskey is rapidly becoming one of my most favorite authors of intelligent spy fiction. His stories are superb, and this latest novel is no exception - it's absolutely brilliant and full of the what I am coming to expect from him: poetic writing, fantastic plot, and unforgettable characters. In "The Seventh Floor" we have six spies who have known each other for years, and a devious Russian mole buried deep within the CIA. What follows is some of the best spy fiction I have ever read. John Le Carre could not have done better. I highly recommend this book to all!