Podcasts about damascus station

AL QAEDA HAS NOW CAPTURED DAMASCUS:  1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1860 DAMASCUS

AL QAEDA HAS NOW CAPTURED DAMASCUS:  2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1870 DAMASCUS

AL QAEDA HAS NOW CAPTURED DAMASCUS:  3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1900 DAMASCUS

AL QAEDA HAS NOW CAPTURED DAMASCUS:  4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1870 DAMASCUS

The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S.Berry. Like the books of David McCloskey of which I'm so fond (Damascus Station, Moscow X) – the author I.S.Berry also worked for the CIA, which gives this book a real sense of authenticity and knowing what she's writing about. Shane Collins is a CIA operative based in Bahrain. He's jaded, nearing compulsory retirement age and has no illusions about his own shortcomings. His job in Bahrain is to feed intel back to America about Iran's involvement in an Arab spring type uprising but this is a really murky world where things might not be as they seem and everyone's expendable. Throw in the 2011 implosion of Bahrain and it's dynamite. If you like a top shelf spy thriller, look no further. This is the real deal. Jackie Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborelli. Much has been written about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, but this book expertly goes behind the scenes to tell the story of the woman who once said that she had three lives – public, private and secret. The author delves into them all, after decades of interviews with family members, friends, lovers and colleagues and the result is a very personal insight into the woman who married a serial philanderer who went on to become President; who suffered lifelong trauma after his assassination; and whose life was coloured by complex relationships, many of them under constant scrutiny by media and the world at large. It's absolutely fascinating. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DANASCUS BACK IN THE GREAT GAME:  4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1870 .

DANASCUS BACK IN THE GREAT GAME:  1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1880 .

DANASCUS BACK IN THE GREAT GAME:  2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. .1914 Syria

DANASCUS BACK IN THE GREAT GAME:  3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1898 .

Send me a Text Message!Storyteller's Society WaitlistLeslie Conner's EpisodeConnect with DavidFind David on InstagramIn this episode, we're joined by David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst and author of the thrillers The Seventh Floor, Moscow X, and Damascus Station. David brings a wealth of real-world experience into his fiction, and today, we'll explore how his background as a CIA agent has shaped his writing. You'll will learn how to blend real-world expertise with gripping fiction, we'll also dive deep into character development, and master pacing and high-stakes in your opening chapter. If you're looking to craft stories that feel authentic, compelling, and full of tension, this conversation is for you.How to use real-world experience to enhance your thriller writing.Writing an opening chapter that readers will lovePacing techniques that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.Tweet me @DavidRGwyn

Listen to John Maytham's weekly book reviews and share his passion for all things literary. From fiction to non-fiction, John reads and reviews a range of books that would sit well on your reading list. This week’s review: Damascus Station by David McCloskey, Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, Money by David McWilliams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David McCloskey worked in CIA field stations across the Middle East throughout the Arab Spring and conducted a rotation in the Counterterrorism Center, briefing Congressional oversight committees, senior White House officials, ambassadors and military officials. He has since written several novels, including "Moscow X" and "Damascus Station", which has just been published in French. He joined us on Perspective to tell us more about his former life as a spy, what pushed him to write and the fine line between fiction and reality.

In this week's episode of Stories in Two, we're diving into the world of book-to-screen adaptations where we look at the new Amazon Prime adaptation of "The Idea of You" by Robinne Lee, starring Anne Hathaway. But that's not all! Ciara has two 5-star reads to rave about, and Fiona gives a mini update on her progress with "Damascus Station" by David McCloskey. Books Discussed in This Episode: "The Bridgertons" by Julia Quinn "The Idea of You" by Robinne Lee "Damascus Station" by David McCloskey "The Teacher" by Freida McFadden "Is This Ok?" by Harriet Gibsone   Whether you're a fan of bookish adaptations or looking for your next great read, we've got you covered! So grab your favorite beverage, cozy up in your favorite reading spot, and join us for another bookish chat on Stories in Two. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review to let us know what you think. Happy reading! Connect with Us: Instagram: @storiesin2 TikTok: @storiesin2 Gmail: storiesin2@gmail.com Let's dive into the world of books together and explore the stories that captivate our hearts and minds. See you in the next episode!  

David is former CIA and the author of Damascus Station and Moscow X.Talking Trading - Expert trading and investing tactics so you can excel in the markets.Your key to getting the results you deserve.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

In this episode, we welcome David McCloskey to the show. He is a former CIA Analyst turned novelist. While in the CIA, he worked in field stations across the Middle East and briefed senior White House officials and Arab royalty. He has written two novels: Damascus Station and his newest book Moscow X. In this interview, we discuss what led him to working at the CIA, common misperceptions of the work the CIA does, what a day in the life of a CIA analyst looks like, whether or not the CIA has “black ops” groups, whether or not the CIA is spying on American citizen, what the federal government knows about potential terrorists crossing our porous southern border, why he decided to leave the CIA and become a professional writer, the major mistakes that he has made in his writing career, misperceptions of the publishing world, his writing and research process, and much more. Let's get into it…  Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former CIA analyst DAVID MCCLOSKEY chats to Paul Burke about his new exhilarating spy thriller MOSCOW X, Russia, Boyars, world views and ubiquitous technological surveillance. MOSCOW X A daring CIA operation threatens chaos in the Kremlin.But can Langley trust the Russian at its center?CIA operatives Sia and Max enter Russia to recruit Vladimir Putin's moneyman. Sia works for a London firm that conceals the wealth of the super-rich. Max's family business in Mexico – a CIA front since the 1960s – is a farm that breeds high-end racehorses. They pose as a couple, and their targets are Vadim, Putin's private banker, and his wife Anna, who is both a banker and an intelligence officer herself…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. His first novel is Damascus Station.RecommendationsFactual: Catherine Belton - Putin's PeopleLiterary & Action Spy thrillers: Mick Herron, John le Carré, Joseph Kanon, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Jack Carr, Don Bentley, David Ignatius, Paul Vidich, Charles Cumming & IS BerryPaul Burke writes for Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network. He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2023. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in March, 2025.Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023& Newcastle Noir 20232024??

The podcast on espionage that brings you in from the cold. Episode One released Feb 1st with ex CIA office and bestselling novelist David McCloskey, author of Damascus Station and Moscow X. SpyMasters is a new podcast from the team at Aspects of History. Every fortnight we will cover a story from the shadow lands of espionage. Fact and fiction, historical and contemporary, we will be talking to the best writers, established and emerging talents alike, about their books and worlds of spies and intelligence. Early episodes include Francis Walsingham's spying monk with S.J. Parris, the spy networks which uncovered the holocaust with Roger Moorhouse, and the incredible story of Edith Cavell, uncovered in the archives by acclaimed historian, Helen Fry. The new podcast is hosted by journalist, writer and Aspects of History board member, Antonia Senior. Antonia studied intelligence history under Christopher Andrew at Cambridge University, and hoped to get the tap on the shoulder. It never came. Instead, Antonia became an award-winning journalist and author of several novels. She is currently writing a book on the Cambridge Five spy ring, due for publication in 2025. Antonia can be found on X @Tonisenior We have no intention of keeping SpyMasters a closely guarded secret. Do please follow us on X @SpyMastersPod and spread the word. We will be grateful for any and all support. Should you be an author, with a relevant new or backlist title, interested in appearing on the podcast do get in touch at history@aspectsofhistory.com Please understand that we will not be able to oblige all requests. Thank you, and good night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the UK release of "Moscow X", we dive into the vault and revisit Matt's interview with spy novelist and former CIA analyst David McCloskey.  David is best known for his critically acclaimed debut, Damascus Station; David returns with his latest thriller, Moscow X. Just as detailed, intricate, and vividly written as Damascus Station, Moscow X is set within the enigmatic layers of Putin's Russia amidst the backdrop of the Ukraine War, where turmoil, intrigue, and betrayal intertwine in a riveting narrative that will keep you turning the pages. For any fans of the spy genre, this is not an interview you want to miss. Moscow X is out now in the UK and available here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/david-mccloskey/moscow-x/9781800753389/ For more info on David, check out his website here: https://www.davidmccloskeybooks.com/ Moscow X is also available from the following websites: Amazon - https://a.co/d/6UtkEYC  Indiebound - https://bookshop.org/p/books/moscow-x-david-mccloskey/19670054?ean=9781324050759 Amazon Pre-Order for UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moscow-X-Novel-David-McCloskey-ebook/dp/B0BWLJ4K63 Amazon Pre-Order for Australia - https://www.amazon.com.au/Moscow-Damascus-Station-David-McCloskey-ebook/dp/B0BS24PP9F/ref=sr_1_5?crid=26R3NQ02RWOFF&keywords=moscow+x&qid=1695673531&sprefix=moscow+x%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-5 Amazon Pre-Order for New Zealand - https://www.amazon.com.au/Moscow-Damascus-Station-David-McCloskey-ebook/dp/B0BS24PP9F/ref=sr_1_5?crid=29JF1MD20FY40&keywords=moscow+X&qid=1695673614&sprefix=moscow+x%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-5 If you enjoyed the podcast please support the show and get access to our new Patreon-only show, "Extra Shot." Go to the Secrets & Spies Patreon page and subscribe there to get access: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Check out Chris's short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4 For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Support Secrets and Spies:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media.  BLUE SKY https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/ SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies

Our first show of 2024! At the end of the show a question from John Daly Recommendations: Catriona: Priscilla When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a gentle best friend. Through Priscilla's eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla's long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame. https://a24films.com/films/priscilla  Eamonn: Nyad Athlete Diana Nyad sets out at 60 to achieve a nearly impossible lifelong dream: to swim from Cuba to Florida across more than 100 miles of open ocean. https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81447231  Stuart: Damascus Station A riveting spy thriller that bears comparison with the works of Deighton, le Carré and Herron, Damascus Station revolves around a CIA operative and his latest recruit who find themselves enmeshed in lethal danger in Assad's Syria. https://www.waterstones.com/book/damascus-station/david-mccloskey//9781800752696?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=531573&awc=3787_1704895983_9b6d2b139bd3979c1d62ad9b8d9a84a0&utm_source=531573&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fshopforward.nl%2F 

Tim Shipman, the chief political commentator at the Sunday Times, conducts a captivating interview with author David McCloskey on the Spybrary podcast. McCloskey's debut novel, Damascus Station, garnered much excitement among spy thriller readers. Shipman explores how his second book, "Moscow X," measures up. The interview delves into the complexities of modern espionage, as well as themes of betrayal, love, loyalty, and vengeance in the shadow war between the West and Moscow. So what is Moscow X all about, Shane? Discover the thrilling world of espionage in Moscow X the gripping second novel by David McCloskey. Set in present-day Russia, this fast-paced spy thriller follows the CIA's Artemis Proctor as she masterminds a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Russian intelligence. With a plot centered around a covert operation to destabilize Putin's regime, Moscow X delves into the complex world of money, power, and betrayal. Prepare for a heart-pounding yet realistic adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat or as in my case, late for work, yes it is that good! Moscow X ‘Thrilling, propulsive and terrifying' Simon Sebag Montefiore The second novel from the author of Damascus Station (‘One of the best spy thrillers in years' The Times) A daring CIA operation threatens chaos in the Kremlin. But can Langley trust the Russian at its center? CIA operatives Sia and Max enter Russia to recruit Vladimir Putin's moneyman. Sia works for a London firm that conceals the wealth of the super-rich. Max's family business in Mexico – a CIA front since the 1960s – is a farm that breeds high-end racehorses. They pose as a couple, and their targets are Vadim, Putin's private banker, and his wife Anna, who is both a banker and an intelligence officer herself… Praise for Damascus Station: ‘Simply marvellous storytelling…a stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre' – Financial Times ‘The best spy novel I have ever read' – General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA

Chris and Mike (FINALLY!) discuss, rate, and review Damascus Station by David McCloskey. Hot take: This is one of Mike's favorite books ever. Period. Just wait for the Scorecard... Please subscribe, rate & review using ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or your favorite podcasting platform. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ThrillerPod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThrillerPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This episode is made possible thanks to our fantastic Patrons! For less than the price of a novel a month, you can help us keep the show going and get access to exclusive content and signed book giveaways! Become a Patron today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThrillerPod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thrillerpod/support

David McCloskey is the author of spycraft thrillers "Damascus Station" and the  recently released "Moscow X." He is a former CIA analyst and former consultant at McKinsey & Company, and now, a very accomplished author.  

TERRORISM GOES TO WAR WITH ISRAEL: #Syria: 1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1910 DAMASCUS

TERRORISM GOES TO WAR WITH ISRAEL: #Syria: 2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. 1910 DAMASCUS

TERRORISM GOES TO WAR WITH ISRAEL: #Syria: 3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the plane 1910 DAMASCUS

TERRORISM GOES TO WAR WITH ISRAEL: #Syria: 4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the plane 1910 DAMASCUS

Today's guest is former CIA analyst David McCloskey. David served as a CIA analyst for six years under the Bush and Obama administrations. He worked in the Middle East and at the CIA's Counterterrorism Center concentrating on Syria and Iraq. He also wrote for the President's Daily Brief, gave classified testimony to congressional oversight committees, and briefed ambassadors, senior White House officials, military officers, and foreign dignitaries. David's first novel, Damascus Station, was published in 2021. It was included in the Financial Times list of best summer books in 2022 and was a finalist for the ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel.  His new novel, Moscow X, is available now.  You can learn more about David by following him on Instagram @mccloskeybooks and visiting his website, davidmccloskeybooks.com. SPONSORS: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org. 1st Phorm: Go to www.1stphorm.com/JACKCARR to receive free shipping on any orders over $75. Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today's episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order! Danger Close Apparel: Check out the new Danger Close apparel.  Featured Gear SIG: Today's featured gear segment is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here. Badass Work Bench Fort Knox Safe  SIG P320 DC Vintage Watches Tacticalories  Covert Threads  1st Phorm Opti-Reds and Opti-Greens 

On today's episode, Matt welcomes back spy novelist and former CIA analyst David McCloskey. Best known for his critically acclaimed debut, Damascus Station, David returns with his latest thriller, Moscow X. Just as detailed, intricate, and vividly written as Damascus Station, Moscow X is set within the enigmatic layers of Putin's Russia amidst the backdrop of the Ukraine War, where turmoil, intrigue, and betrayal intertwine in a riveting narrative that will keep you turning the pages. For any fans of the spy genre, this is not an interview you want to miss. David's website - https://www.davidmccloskeybooks.com/ Amazon - https://a.co/d/6UtkEYC  Indiebound - https://bookshop.org/p/books/moscow-x-david-mccloskey/19670054?ean=9781324050759 Amazon Pre-Order for UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moscow-X-Novel-David-McCloskey-ebook/dp/B0BWLJ4K63 Amazon Pre-Order for Australia - https://www.amazon.com.au/Moscow-Damascus-Station-David-McCloskey-ebook/dp/B0BS24PP9F/ref=sr_1_5?crid=26R3NQ02RWOFF&keywords=moscow+x&qid=1695673531&sprefix=moscow+x%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-5 Amazon Pre-Order for New Zealand - https://www.amazon.com.au/Moscow-Damascus-Station-David-McCloskey-ebook/dp/B0BS24PP9F/ref=sr_1_5?crid=29JF1MD20FY40&keywords=moscow+X&qid=1695673614&sprefix=moscow+x%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-5 Get access to our new Patreon-only show, "Extra Shot." Go to the Secrets & Spies Patreon page and subscribe there to get access: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures”  https://mattfulton.net/ Check out Chris's short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4 For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Support Secrets and Spies:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media. TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/ SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

COLD WAR PREVIEW: 2/4: Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet 1900 JERUSALEM

COLD WAR PREVIEW: 1/4: Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet 1867 LEBANON

COLD WAR PREVIEW: 3/4: Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet 1931 SOMALIA

COLD WAR PREVIEW: 4/4: Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet 1920 AFGHANISTAN

Photo: BAGHDAD 1919. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow THE FORGOTTEN 20-YEAR WAR: #Syria: 1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: BAGHDAD 1950. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow THE FORGOTTEN 20-YEAR WAR: #Syria: 2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: BAGHDAD 1961. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow THE FORGOTTEN 20-YEAR WAR: #Syria: 3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: Ciro 1892. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow THE FORGOTTEN 20-YEAR WAR: #Syria: 4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

This is part of Chapter 1 of Damascus Station.....it's setting the theme for the intrigue and espionage to follow.Support the show

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow Damascus 1898 #Syria: #Assad: 4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow Damascus  1898 #Syria: #Assad: 1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow Damascus  1898 #Syria: #Assad: 2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow  Damascus 1898 #Syria: #Assad: 3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey. . CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and his smash hit debut novel Damascus Station was inspired by his time working in field stations in the Middle East. David tells us how the novel started as an exercise in processing his thoughts about the events in Syria, what he learned from writing for US presidents, how letting go of his ego helped him write a novel, and the role played in his career by a hot dog machine in Langley...

Brian Raymond is the founder and CEO of Unstructured. They provide open source libraries and APIs to build custom preprocessing pipelines for labeling, training, and production machine learning pipelines. They've raised a seed round from BCV, Mango, and Essence. He was previously the VP of Global Public Sector at Primer. Prior to that, he has held roles at CIA and the National Security Council. In this episode, we cover a range of topics including: - The need for data preprocessing - LLM use cases that are exciting - What AI use cases are useful to government agencies - How should startups think about building for the government - Building the user base for Unstructured - 4 pillars of the emerging tech stack for LLMs - Open source software Brian's favorite books: Chip War, The Main Enemy, Damascus Station, The Red Sparrow Trilogy--------Where to find Prateek Joshi:Newsletter: https://prateekjoshi.substack.com Website: http://prateekj.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-joshi-91047b19 Twitter: https://twitter.com/prateekvjoshi 

Damascus Station  is a gripping, realistic portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty and betrayal.  You won't be able to put it down!Support the show

Former CIA analyst, David McCloskey, joins Simon and Matt to talk about his stunning spy novel, Damascus Station. It's already one of Matt's books of the year - and has received great praise from across the spectrum. David talks about his time in the CIA, tells us how much he had to take out of the first draft and why authenticity is so important. Here comes the science bit...A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in Damascus to hunt for a killer.CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy.But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard.Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. Damascus 1870 @Batchelorshow 1/4: Top Secrets again in the wind. 1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. Damascus 1880 @Batchelorshow 2/4: Top Secrets again in the wind. 2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. Damascus 1885 @Batchelorshow 3/4: Top Secrets again in the wind. 3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. Damascus 1912 @Batchelorshow 4/4: Top Secrets again in the wind. 4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow: 3/4: Spy vs Spy: 3/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow: 4/4: Spy vs Spy: 4/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow:  1/4: Spy vs Spy: 1/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow: 2/4: Spy vs Spy: 2/4:  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet

David is a former CIA agent and author of the thriller Damascus Station. We discuss the CIA, growing up, his wonderful book. Syria and the creative process.

Summary David McCloskey (Twitter; Website) and James Stejskal (Twitter; LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss writing about espionage. They are both former intelligence officers.   What You'll Learn Intelligence What it is like writing spy fiction as a former practitioner How fact informs fiction Writing as a former analyst compared to as a former operator (James)  Reactions by the intelligence community to practitioners-turned-authors Reflections The heaven and hell of being an author  The process of getting a process And much, much more… Episode Notes Hear two intelligence formers discuss life as current novelists.  Where does fact end, and fiction begin when you are a former CIA officer writing fiction? What parts of your own story bleed into the novel? Are the characters composites of people you knew in your line of work or are they entirely fictional?  To answer these questions and more, this week, I sat down with David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of Damascus Station, a book David Petraeus described as “the best spy novel I have ever read,” and James Stejskal, author of Appointment in Tehran, which has been called “a textbook clandestine operation involving…US Army Special Forces and a clandestine CIA Case Officer,” which James would know something about, since he was both.  And… Spy fiction received quite the blow in the space of a 6-month period (Dec 2020-May 2021) which saw the passing of both John Le Carre and Jason Matthews, two formers who served in British and American intelligence. Le Carre was in MI5 and MI6 while Matthews had a long career in the CIA. David and James join a distinguished cast of formers who became novelists, including Ian Fleming, Graham Greene and Dame Stella Rimington.  Quote of the Week "There are far more edits on, short articles I wrote that weren't even going to the president than on the book, so your writing is being critiqued at all levels. I I think when I did write for the PDB [Presidential Daily Brief], I don't think I'm making this up, I believe it was 9 or 10 layers of review. You could probably argue that sometimes that makes it worse, but you have to be able at all stages to roll with the punches and to write and to try to make things very clear." Resources Headline Resources Damascus Station, D. McCloskey (2021) Appointment in Tehran, J. Stejskal (2021) Andrew's Recommendation The Looking Glass War, J. Le Carre (1965) Le Carre doubles down on disabusing the public's romanticization of intelligence  *SpyCasts* “Snake Eaters, Detachment A, CIA” – James Stejskal (2022) “American Spy” – Lauren Wilkinson (2021) “Red Widow” – Alma Katsu (2021) “American Traitor” – Brad Taylor (2021) “The Evolution of Spy Fiction”  - Wesley Wark (2011) Beginner Resources 15 Best Espionage Novels, M. Warwick, Mal Warwick On Books (2022) [article] Novelists Who Became Spies, C. Cumming, Crime Reads (2019) [article] Best Spy Novels According to a Spy, A. Katsu, Crime Reads (2021) [article] Books Missions of the SOE and OSS in WWII, J. Stejskal (Casemate, 2021) Special Forces Berlin, J. Stejskal (Casemate, 2017) On Writing, S. King (Scribner, 2010) Spy Fiction, Spy Films & Real Intelligence, W. Wark (Routledge, 1991) Articles Nine Examples of Spy Fiction Books, Masterclass (2021) How to Write a Spy Thriller, Masterclass (2021) How End of Cold War Changed Spy Fiction, J. Ciabattari, BBC Culture (2014) Videos All the Old Knives, O. Steinhauer, SPY (2022) Spy Writing in the Real World, Hayden Center (2021) The Spy Writers You Love to Read, SPY (2020) Primary Sources  American Observer, CIA (1970) Barry Farber Show, CIA (1970) *Wildcard Resource* The Riddle of the Sands, E. Childers (1903) An early spy novel that presaged the anti-German “spy fever” that struck allied countries before and during WWI 

Please subscribe, rate & review using Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting platform. You can find us online at ThrillerPod.com and on Twitter or Instagram @ThrillerPodcast. This episode is made possible and kept ad-free thanks to our fantastic Patrons! For less than the price of a novel a month, you can help us keep the show going and get access to exclusive content and signed book giveaways! Become a Patron today at Patreon.com/MitchRappPod. Disclaimer: This podcast is not affiliated with Brad Thor or Simon & Schuster. The music soundtrack is Honor Bound by Bryan Teoh. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

David McCloskey knows spy fiction. Having been a CIA analyst in a former life, he knows what makes a spy novel realistic and as a novelist he knows what makes the drama work. His 2021 novel, Damascus Station, is one of my favorite books of recent vintage precisely because it blends the two so beautifully. So on this episode of Bibliography, McCloskey joined the show to discuss some of his favorite books in the genre—new and old—as well as several other books that have defined his reading life over the years. Careful: You’re TBR list is about to get longer. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe

Photo:   At the presidential inauguration of Hashim al-Atassi in Parliament on December 31, 1936. 2/4  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  Hardcover – October 5, 2021  #UNBOUND. The complete, forty-minute interview. December 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." —The Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr. The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. .

Photo: Greater Syria. Baalbec 4/4  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  Hardcover – October 5, 2021  #UNBOUND. The complete, forty-minute interview. December 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." —The Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr. The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:  Post card of a group of Alawite musicians from North-Western Syria, (1920's) 3/4  Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  Hardcover – October 5, 2021  #UNBOUND. The complete, forty-minute interview. December 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." —The Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr. The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:   Plaque on the western wall of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. The text is from the 36th and 37th verses of the surah of the Light (النور):"36. (It is) in houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and His name to be remembered therein. Therein do glorify Him, in the mornings and the evenings, 37. Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts — from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up — of prayer and the paying of the poor-rate. [...]" 1/4   Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  Hardcover – October 5, 2021 #UNBOUND. The complete, forty-minute interview. December 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." —The Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr. The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Though this episode was recorded in November of 2021, David's recollections and impressions of the Syrian Conflict are eerily similar to what's happening in Ukraine right now. A former CIA analyst, he's now a spy novelist to keep your eye on. David McCloskey reveals part of his process and some unique elements of craft that he brought to this auspicious first novel. Episode 58From a CBS article by Kate Gibson, here are some links to help Ukranians:Convoy of Hope. The disaster relief group says it's partnering with a local Polish organization to provide meals to refugees entering Poland, as well as to deliver food, water and other basics across the region. Donate here.International Committee of the Red Cross. The Swiss-based organization is supporting the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross in helping those impacted by the war. Donate to the ICRC.International Medical Corps. The first responders' organization has teams inside Ukraine and in the surrounding regions to offer medical and mental health services. Link to contribute.Kyiv Independent. The English-language news site has launched a GoFundMe campaign asking for support.UNICEF. The global group devoted to safeguarding children is working to provide humanitarian supplies to families without safe water or electricity due to the conflict. Contributions can be made here.Voices of Children. The Ukraine-based charitable foundation has been offering psychological counseling, including art therapy, for children affected by war in the country's east since 2015, according to its site. The group is currently helping children and families across Ukraine, including helping with evacuations. Get bonus content on Patreon Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

On April 4, 2022, Eric Bishop & Jason Piccolo interviewed  David McCloskey about his book DAMASCUS STATION and his incredible background.About: David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and consultant at McKinsey & Company. While at the CIA, he wrote regularly for the President's Daily Brief, delivered classified testimony to Congressional oversight committees, and briefed senior White House officials, Ambassadors, military officials, and Arab royalty. He worked in CIA field stations across the Middle East throughout the Arab Awakening and conducted a rotation in the Counterterrorism Center focused on the jihad in Syria and Iraq.Head to bigtexordnance.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/theprotectors)

The Crew welcomes the author of one of the buzziest debuts of the year as David McCloskey join us to talk about his scintillating novel DAMASCUS STATION. A finalist for the 2022 ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel, DAMASCUS STATION drips with authenticity thanks to the authors rich experience in the shadowy world of intelligence.   "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." —General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy.  But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Stationis a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet. A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print."  (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr).  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.     Don't forget to subscribe to The Crew Reviews, hit the "LIKE" button, and leave a comment. And if you want to learn more about the guys from The Crew or see additional author interviews, visit us at http://www.thecrewreviews.com Follow us on social media Twitter | https://twitter.com/CREWbookreviews   Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thecrewreviews Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thecrewreviews/

Welcome to Episode 173 of the Spybrary Spy Book podcast. Today, we bring you a spy author interview. Spybrary hosts Shane Whaley and David Craggs find out more about Damascus Station with spy writer, author, and former CIA analyst David McCloskey

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan sit down with former CIA Analyst David McCloskey to talk about his new spy thriller novel, Damascus Station. Set in the backdrop of the early years of the Syrian Civil War, Damascus Station depicts the conflict through the eyes of CIA Case Officer Sam Joseph and Syrian Palace Official Mariam Haddad. Sam recruits Mariam for CIA, but the two fall in love, complicating matters as the U.S. Governments tries to find answers about the whereabouts of a missing CIA agent, believed to be held captive by the Syrian Government. David discusses his writing style and why he chose to depict the Syrian Civil War through a work of fiction, in addition to talking about his portrayal of characters within both the U.S. and Syrian Governments. David also provides us with a broad overview of the Syrian conflict and the incumbent Assad regime, contextualizing the story in his book.

On this episode I am joined by former CIA analyst turned author David McCloskey. David has written a fantastic new spy novel called Damascus Station”. I have to be honest David's book is brilliant and sits in my favourite spy novels of all time. On this episode David and I take a look at the situation in Syria, and look at how those real life elements informed his writing.  And we ask the burning question…. Will the CIA hotdog machine return in David's next book? Tune in to find out more You can connect with David and get a copy of “Damascus Station” via David's website: https://www.davidmccloskeybooks.com/ Our film “The Dry Cleaner” has been released! Check out the trailer here: youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4 And you can buy the film here: www.drycleanercast.co.uk/watchthefilm Music  Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here:  https://www.monsteromnibus.com/?fbclid=IwAR0%E2%80%A6BdNQbuCvt9KWU Please support this podcast Patreon Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Visit our new memorabilia shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Connect with us here: TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies 

Photo:  Interior of an ancient harem. CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor CBS Audio Network @Batchelorshow David McCloskey. #UNBOUND. The complete, forty-minute interview. December 2021. Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey.  Hardcover – October 5, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T10VHP3CVOPA&keywords=Damascus+Station&qid=1642295489&s=books&sprefix=damascus+station%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.   ..

Photo:   Pauline Cushman was an American actress and a spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War. She is considered one of the most successful Civil War spies. 1/4  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey.  – Hardcover October 5, 2021 "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:  Hulu Pasha al-Abed (1824-1895), a statesman from Damascus, held several high positions during the Ottoman era, including the presidency of the Syrian province and the presidency of the Damascus Chamber of Agriculture in 1890.  Hulu Al-Abed was born in the Al-Midan neighborhood outside the walls of the old city of Damascus. His father, Omar Agha Al-Abed, was one of the notables. He reached a great position in Istanbul for his contribution to the protection of thousands of Christian Damascene families during the strife of 1860.  Before those events, the Al-Abed family was working in the livestock trade, but it turned from then on to one of the most famous and oldest political families in the city. Hulu Al-Abed participated in protecting Christians with his father and with Prince Abdul Qadir Al-Jazaery. In appreciation of his humanitarian role, the Russian Consul in Damascus awarded him the Order of St. Stanislas. 2/4  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey.  – Hardcover October 5, 2021  "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:  Homs, 1940. Torchlight procession at night by the Foreign Legion (negative by D. Parer) 3/4  Damascus Station: A Novel, by  David McCloskey.  – Hardcover October 5, 2021  "Damascus Station is the best spy novel I have ever read." ―General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA A CIA officer and his recruit arrive in war-ravaged Damascus to hunt for a killer in this page-turner that offers the "most authentic depiction of modern-day tradecraft in print." (Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr). CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit Syrian Palace official Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat and mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:    The Ahiram sarcophagus (also spelled Ahirom,

This week's Horns of a Dilemma may be a first in that it deals with a work of fiction.  Author David McCloskey joins Stephen Slick of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas, Austin, to discuss his new novel, Damascus Station. In the novel, McCloskey draws on his years as a CIA analyst to lend realism to both the civil war in Syria (the setting for the novel) and to the culture and activities of the CIA. The book talk is followed by a discussion between McCloskey and Slick about McCloskey's perspective on intelligence and the CIA in particular. This talk was held at the University of Texas, Austin.

This week, Shane Harris talks with former CIA analyst turned spy novelist David McCloskey. His new book, Damascus Station, has been widely praised for its accurate portrayal of intelligence operations. The story plays out amid a burgeoning civil war in Syria, where McCloskey served. Shane spoke to David about his influences, his writing process, and why it was important to get tiny details right about life in the CIA. Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo, with engineering assistance from Ian Enright.Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talmage Boston holds a live cross-examination style interview of David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of the new spy thriller Damascus Station.

If you're reading this, it means you have somehow decided to stay subscribed to The Dream Job Podcast feed despite receiving exactly zero minutes of new content in the past three months. And if you're that dedicated to the work we're doing here, it's likely you were also listening in May when we had Dave McCloskey on the podcast. And if you were, you likely recall the solemn vow we made to our dear listeners that we would have Dave back on for a second episode to see how life was going after his first novel was released. This is that episode.  When we last chatted with Dave, he was a former CIA analyst, a former McKinsey consultant, and an aspiring bestselling novelist, with the "aspiring" tag being passive-aggressively applied by us due to the fact that Dave's debut novel had yet to be released.  Well, we can now drop the "aspiring" tag and give Dave the credit that is his due as an actual novelist. Damascus Station, Dave's debut novel came out in early October and has since gone on to sell several (at least seven) thousand copies, receive more than two hundred five star reviews on Amazon, and be named to a number of fall reading lists by the likes of Amazon, The Washington Post, Apple Books, and others. By nearly any measure, Damascus Station is an amazing success for a first-time author with zero reality TV credits or TikTok followers. BUT...does that mean the path has been laid for Dave's career as a full-time novelist? Does it mean book #2 is destined for the same result? Does it mean he's living his dream??  Those are questions that need answers. And if we have to stage an impromptu, unplanned, mid-Winter podcast episode to get those answers...well, that's what we're going to do. So here it is. Hope you enjoy it! Dave's WebsiteDave on InstagramDamascus Station on Amazon

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate As a CIA analyst, David McCloskey covered Syria from 2008 to 2014. He draws on his experience for his new spy thriller, "Damascus Station," set during the early years of the Syrian war. David McCloskey joins Aaron Maté to discuss "Damascus Station"; the early years of the Syrian war; the role of foreign powers including the US; the US decision to support the insurgency despite knowing that Al Qaeda and other Salafi jihadist groups were its "primary engine"; allegations of chemical weapons attacks in Syria; and the direction of US policy in post-war Syria. Guest: David McCloskey. Former CIA analyst who covered Syria for six years, from 2008 to 2014. Wrote memos for the President's Daily Brief (PDB), lived and worked in CIA field stations throughout the region, and briefed senior White House officials, members of Congress, and Arab royalty. His new book is "Damascus Station", a spy thriller set during the early years of the Syrian war. "Damascus Station", by David McCloskey https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393881042

Photo:  Syrian ten-pound note, 1947 4/4   Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. Hardcover – October 5, 2021.   https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo: 1/4 Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. Hardcover – October 5, 2021.  https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:  Syrian Demonstration against French Mandate 2/4 Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. Hardcover – October 5, 2021.  https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

Photo:   Constitution of the Syrian Republic, 14 May 1930 3/4 Damascus Station: A Novel, by David McCloskey. Hardcover – October 5, 2021.   https://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Station-Novel-David-McCloskey/dp/0393881040 The CIA case officer Sam Joseph is dispatched to Paris to recruit a Syrian Palace official, Mariam Haddad. The two fall into a forbidden relationship, which supercharges Haddad's recruitment and creates unspeakable danger when they enter Damascus to find the man responsible for the disappearance of an American spy. But the cat-and-mouse chase for the killer soon leads to a trail of high-profile assassinations and the discovery of a dark secret at the heart of the Syrian regime, bringing the pair under the all-seeing eyes of Assad's spy catcher, Ali Hassan, and his brother Rustum, the head of the feared Republican Guard. Set against the backdrop of a Syria pulsing with fear and rebellion, Damascus Station is a gripping thriller that offers a textured portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty, and betrayal in one of the most difficult CIA assignments on the planet.

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst and author of "Damascus Station," a fictional spy novel centered on the civil war in Syria. Morell and McCloskey discuss the history of the Syrian conflict and the United States' engagement there, including key inflection points and how policy decisions made during the Obama administration paved the way for realities on the ground today. McCloskey details his time as an analyst at the agency and decision to become an author. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's 23rd episode of The Thriller Zone, I'm happy to introduce you to https://DavidMcCloskeyBooks.com (David McCloskey), author of Damascus Station. I feel confident saying you'll enjoy getting to know him as much as I have. And to be frank, I think this guy will be one of those authors you'll read for years to come. In fact, if you enjoy John Le Carre, you'll really enjoy his latest page-turning thriller.  I read it, and personally feel it has it all; intrigue, murder, espionage, and even romance. Yes; David has a hit on his hands, as you'll hear inside the show. A nice bonus, especially meeting someone who is relatively new on the scene, is how excited and humble he appears; especially given the depth of this thriller.  On today's show we cover a wide gamut of topics: the CIA, his work following "bad guys," his reporting to the White House with daily briefs, as well as his love of Texas (where he and his family live), his admiration of Peter The Great (be sure to catch the rapid fire questions near the end), and his passion for Italian food (I mean, who doesn't love that?). We even refer to my new friend and a man David wants to read and get to know, Fred Burton (author of Beirut Rules), as well as hear his taste in books (Little Drummer Girl by John Le Carre), his respect of music (Jack Antonoff/Bleachers), and of course, his love for and the craft of writing. There's so much to take away from this episode, so get comfortable folks because it's time to get into The Thriller Zone. For More Information, go to: DavidMcCloskeyBooks.com and follow him on Twitter @mccloskeybooks. THRILLER ZONE PLUG: Be sure to catch all the podcasts, both audio AND video, on the newly updated and handsomely enhanced website: https://TheThrillerZone.com (TheThrillerZone.com)  Plus, stay tuned for several new features coming to the show including: contests to win autographed copies of the books we discuss on the show, multiple chances to win "Official Thriller Zone Swag" that includes t-shirts, coffee mugs and more. Finally, if you're a Thriller Writer who would like to be on the show in 2022, there will soon be a way to sign up and share your latest or upcoming release. Cheers! Special Thanks & Photo Credit to Anders Jildén on Unsplash for the use of his background photo in the new Thriller Zone logo. 

In this AFIO Now episode, former CIA Analyst David McCloskey discusses his novel, "Damascus Station," a spy thriller set against the backdrop of the Syrian civil war. Recorded 14 Sep 2021.  Host: James Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

Syria isn’t the only thing aflame in Damascus Station, David McCloskey’s debut thriller set against the ongoing conflict: McCloskey’s protagonist, CIA officer Sam Joseph, has fallen for a source, strictly forbidden, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Only, when it comes to the CIA “F-ups happen to good officers. Deception does not. You... Read more »