I’ve been a fan of RNP’s novels for a while – generally lengthy (which I like) and detailed/twisted enough to be enjoyable. This story, though, was less a twisted novel and more an excursus into the politics of the Middle East wrapped in a slim fictional wrapper. Still an interesting read, though – he did a lot of research, and the characters and situations, while fictional in detail, are undoubtedly representative of real people.

Not bad, but not great either. Patterson should really stay away from spy thrillers. He doesn't hold up well in comparison to the masters of the genre.