Book Review - the Ghost War by Alex Berenson

The Ghost War is Alex Berenson's second book featuring John Wells an American Citizen who infiltrates the Taliban in Afghanistan. Along the way Wells becomes a devout Muslim forcing those back in Washington to determine if he is still on the side of the United States in the War on Terror or if he has been turned by the men with whom he had been eating, breathing and living. You find out the answer to this question at the end of the first book "The Faithful Spy".

In "The Ghost War" Berenson and Wells are back and the focus shifts from the Middle East to Asia, specifically China and North Korea and the very real behind the scenes battle that is waging against the United States and the West. Berenson's books are in the same genre as Tom Clancy, James Rollins and Vince Flynn. Well's is similar to Flynn's Mitch Rapp the difference is that Mitch Rapp is not as conflicted as Well's and Flynn is not as conflicted as Berenson.

All good authors bring a part of themselves to their characters. It is this honesty and rawness that make characters come to life and allows readers to connect and become a part of the story. Berenson does this and he does it well. John Wells is a man who has dedicated the last two decades of his life to serve the interests of the United States. His dedication has come at a great cost personally and professionally. However unlike Rapp in the Flynn books Wells questions the role of the United States in the War on Terror and whether or not the United States should be in the Middle East and other places that our country has currently deemed a danger and this is where the reader's opinion on the United States role in combating what has been deemed the War on Terror and the Axis of Evil will come into play in determine whether this is a book that they will love or a book that will never be on their top ten list.

The story is very good and very realistic. The writing is beautiful and it flows smoothly and is easy to follow. The story is interesting. The question s what are your personal politics? What are your personal beliefs? If you question some of the steps taken by the United States and our armed forces then chances are you will really like this book. You will most likely share some of the characters concerns while at the same time doing all that you can to support our troops. If you believe that the steps that have been taken by the United States Government and the armed forces have been necessary to protect the Country then my expectation is that you will not love this book. You will not like the questioning, the guilt and some of the hesitation.

I enjoyed both "The Faithful Spy" and "The Ghost War" and I will ready Berensons most recent "The Silent Man" with that said in my opinion Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp are in no danger of being removed from my favorites list.