Body of Lies

Starred review from February 12, 2007
Displaying his trademark expertise and writing skill, Washington Post
columnist Ignatius (Agents of Innocence
) has crafted one of the best post-9/11 spy thrillers yet. Subtly framing a highly elaborate plot, Ignatius tells the story of idealistic CIA agent Roger Ferris, newly stationed in Jordan after being wounded in Iraq. After a failed initiative to flush out a terrorist mastermind known as Suleiman, Ferris, who's dedicated to forestalling further al-Qaeda attacks, develops an intricate scheme modeled after a British plan used successfully against the Nazis. Ferris's plot to turn the terrorists against each other by sowing seeds of suspicion that their leaders are collaborating with the Americans puts his personal life in turmoil and threatens his professional relationship with the head of Jordanian intelligence. Few readers will anticipate the jaw-dropping conclusion, and the pairing of first-rate espionage suspense with fully developed characters should propel this onto the bestseller lists and possibly attract Hollywood interest. Author tour.

Starred review from May 15, 2007
Feinting boldly with the Middle Eastern concept of taqiyya (the permitted lie a believer tells to protect himself from the infidel), Washington Post columnist Ignatius (A Firing Offense) here plots a labyrinthine duet of conspiracies between the CIA and Jordan's secret service against their common foe, al Qaeda. As the author reveals, taqiyya is the perfect tool for devious allies with serious trust issues, and he distills his 25 years of Middle East experience to illuminate the dark forces that power the conflicts now raging in the guise of the war on terrorism. A sure bet for international thriller collections where the traditions of Graham Greene and Frederick Forsyth live on; highly recommended for all popular fiction collections. [Film rights were acquired by Warner Brothers, and Ridley Scott has signed on to direct.Ed.]Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2007
Car bombs begin to explode in European cities, and it's only a matter of time until they reach the U.S. CIA agent Roger Ferris learns of the existence of "Suleiman," who may be responsible for the carnage. But finding Suleiman and penetrating his cell seem nearly impossible. Ferris, a rising young star in the CIA, is made station chief for Jordan, and he decides to employ a ruse used successfully by the British in World War II to deceive the Nazis. If it works, al Qaeda itself will eliminate Suleiman and deal a devastating blow to its own operations. Ferris wins over bluff, aggressive Ed Hoffman, chief of the CIA's Near East operations, and the elegant, wily, and dangerous Hani Salaam, Jordan's top spy. Meanwhile, Ferris' marriage to a Justice Department lawyer researching legal justifications for torture is failing, and he's falling in love with a woman whose passion is humanitarian aid to victims of Middle East chaos--all of which forces him to question his beliefs and worry about the unintended consequences of his actions. " Body of Lies" is thoroughly entertaining, but it's also a timely and plausible cautionary tale of schemes within schemes and morality compromised. It has vividly rendered locales, clever plotting, some compelling characters, and a discomforting verisimilitude.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)