‘What happens when a spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception?‘
– The Persian
[ About The Persian ]
Kamran Esfahani, a Persian Jewish dentist from Stockholm, dreams of starting afresh in California. To finance his new life, he agrees to spy for Mossad in Iran, working with a clandestine unit tasked with sowing chaos and sabotage inside the country.
When he’s captured by Iranian security forces, Kamran is compelled to confess his experiences as a spy, in a testimonial dealing not only with the security of nations, but also with revenge, deceit, and the power of love and forgiveness in a world of lies.
[ My Review ]
The Persian by David McCloskey publishes in TPB with Swift Press today, January 29th and is described as a novel that ‘mixes suspense with strikingly cinematic action…takes readers deep into the shadow war between Iran and Israel, delivering propulsive storytelling and riveting tradecraft.’
There is something very exciting about picking up a spy fiction novel, with an expectation of a Mission Impossible type of urgency unfolding as the pages turn. The Persian provides that and more. This dynamic, yet tragic, thriller is, unfortunately, all too relevant in modern society, as we witness the constant turmoil that besets the Middle East on a now daily basis. I have no doubt that elements of this novel may prove controversial for some readers but as a fictional tale it is very compelling and extremely provocative.
Kamran Esfahani was reared in Stockholm, after his family moved there as a result of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Kamran is unfulfilled as a dentist and dreams of a new life in California. He researches property with a fateful sense of optimism always hoping that someday his dream could become a reality. The day that he is approached surreptitiously by a Mossad agent alters the course of his life. Although Iranian by birth, Kamran is Jewish. He has no direct ties to Israel, but he abhors how Iran is being controlled. With a very generous financial settlement being offered, Kamran decides to take a risk. Following training in Albania, he becomes part of an undercover unit whose role is to infiltrate Iranian targets and assist in neutralising high-level espionage rings.
But Kamran is unfortunately captured by Iranian soldiers and, over the course of a number of years, he is subjected to torture (note: no great detail given). Through this time, he is forced to write and rewrite his participation in Mossad’s work and as he writes, a parallel narrative unfolds, one that is both terrifying and heartbreaking on all sides.
David McCloskey describes Kamran as ‘exactly the sort of non-descript but fascinating player who’s rolling the dice in the spy game.’ As an ex-CIA analyst, David McCloskey spent many years working in counterterrorism and has plenty of experience of the Middle East. Conversing with former Mossad officers and Iranians, he gathered details in the hope that The Persian would be recognised as authentic in its portrayal of the intelligence network on both sides. Highlighting the human element, where beliefs are rooted in their own truths, the cast of characters are brilliantly depicted and very credible.
The Persian is a confident, fascinating, and penetrating novel. David McCloskey’s experience and research add a terrifyingly conceivable layer to the story. Furtive exchanges, personal tragedy, contentious politics all combine as The Persian immerses the reader in a fast-paced, tense, and dramatic spy thriller. Top-notch stuff!
[ Thank you to Gill Hess for a copy of The Persian in exchange for my honest review ]
[ Bio ]
David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and former consultant at McKinsey & Company. While at the CIA, he worked in field stations across the Middle East and briefed senior White House officials and Arab royalty. He lives in Texas.
