There is no higher praise I can give
357582
If you are a fan of thriller fiction and Alex Berenson is not on your "must read" list, then you need to take the first step toward remedying that state of affairs by reading THE SHADOW PATROL. Berenson's series of espionage thrillers featuring (now former) CIA agent John Wells are among the most well-written, carefully researched and meticulously plotted novels one is likely to encounter in any genre. Over the course of five books, Wells has penetrated al Qaeda, prevented at least two world wars, and short-circuited terrorist attacks on American soil.

This would be the stuff of fancy in the hands of a less-talented author. But Berenson has that rare ability that renders his characters --- and the events they create --- a part of the real world. At times, Berenson has seemed almost prescient in his creation of events. Wells, his mainstay character, is memorable not only for his skill set but also for the contradictions that form his core. Raised as a Christian who then converted to Islam, Wells seems an unlikely agent for our times. A firm believer but not a strong practitioner of the faith, he knows all too well the frequently hostile territory he treads. Though retired from the CIA, Wells continues to find himself being drawn back, however reluctantly, into the dangerous world of spy craft for the best and worst of reasons: it is what he is, and it is what he does.

In THE SHADOW PATROL, the sixth and newest book in the series, Wells is transported to the American front lines in Afghanistan, a country where his career in espionage began. This time, though, he is tasked with "infiltrating" the CIA's Kabul station. Years before, the station was attacked by a suicide bomber, leaving all of its senior officers dead. The station still has not fully recovered; worse, there is some concern that the Taliban has somehow infiltrated the station. Wells enters Kabul in his own identity, ostensibly to generally evaluate the station and its personnel, while quietly looking for signs that the station has been compromised. He is met, for the most part, with a veneer of cooperation and barely-concealed hostility.

It is only when he makes contact with enlisted men on the base that Wells begins to make headway, uncovering a plot that stretches from Chicago to Karachi and back again. He finds himself up against any number of dangerous characters, with the worst being those who are at his back. The hills of Afghanistan are full of deceit, lies and treachery, all of it concealing layer upon layer of a plot whose seeds were sown years before in tragedy. Beset at the end from all sides, Wells has nowhere to go but forward, even as the number of people he can trust slowly but steadily dwindles.

Berenson is a master of creating complex yet comprehensible plots that move the reader steadily through an increasingly dangerous maze. At the same time, he understands his territory at any number of different levels. His criticisms of US foreign policy have always been thoughtful and measured --- those hoping for reflexive mad-dog attacks are advised to go elsewhere --- and this is particularly true in his latest novel. His portrait of men, both good and bad, in conflict is first rate; in fact, his psychological description of a sniper who perhaps has been in the field too long is worth the price of admission all by itself.

Berenson is one of the very few authors whose work I deliberately read at a slow, measured pace for the best of reasons: I don't want the latest book, whatever it might be, to end. I found myself doing this yet again while reading THE SHADOW PATROL. There is no higher praise I can give it than that.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
1865454
I only review the things I love.  I have listened to this album now for 3 months.  Incredible.  The Kooks never cease to simply bring me joy.  I love it.  Keep making albums, please.
2789165
I can perfectly see, based on the reviews in here, how it works on people - it either gets a 5-star review by an amazed listener or a 1-star review by a person who asks what is this supposed to be. Well, being a DM fan for so many years I can tell that DM fans are so incredibly diverse that I can almost understand such varied reactions.

This album represents what Martin truly is and I'm sure that there can hardly be any closer expression of himself. I've heard it dozens of times but there's just no way I can get bored with it, it's so unbelievably catchy and profound, so incredibly loaded with emotion that is works like a drug. Those who just don't get it say it's monotone and disappointing and that's just because it's not really an easy listening, you've got to devote your time to really get into it... words just can't explain, I'm not a native english speaker so I can't describe it in such an impressive way. You have to feel this one inside out, this is for people who understand the deepest dimensions of music and once you get it, I'm absolutely sure it'll tremendously reward you and never get away from you. There's just nothing in between - you either understand it or you don't.

You ask how can it be so much special when considering Martin is the brain of DM? It's extremely irresponsible to state that it's just because he could've done better with this album - those who said it in here could have done much better when they listened to it and made such vague statements about this "one-of-a-kind" album. My ultimate viewpoint is that after hearing this album I understood that DM is actually the "commercially-friendly" version of Martin's world and his ideas, although still being so stellar and fantastic to all of us. Although I'm a musician and constantly listen to such a broad spectre of music I must admit that Martin L. Gore is so unbelievably gifted that he can't be denied the spot among the very unique geniuses that this world has ever seen.
4448347
The stars say it all, don't know what else I could put other than I love it.
3987606
This is the album I recommend to anyone who is interested in this band and had never heard them. Start to finish I cannot find any points that can be improved upon.  A masterpiece and occupies a spot on my 'classics' shelf.
1824384
It is difficult to write a review of a piece of art like this.  Words just don't do it justice.  The emotions conveyed on this relatively short record (about thirty minutes) alone are enough to take you to a higher place.
Everybody's playing on this record is about as good as it can get.  Hartman's voice is incredible; he floats on top of the melody, he gets deep inside the groove, he sings behind the notes, he tap dances with Elvin Jones' brush.  Coltrane's playing is simply beautiful; there is no other word for it.  All you can sometimes do is just cry at how ethereal, spiritual, and calmly reinforcing his playing is.
McCoy Tyner's piano playing is sublime; it's like watching a zen master float through the air or something.
Jimmy Garrison's bass playing; I don't have the words.  It is so good that I don't notice he's there WHILE I AM COMPLETELY AWARE AT ALL TIMES WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE MUSIC.  It is an accomplishment of such gravity that I shudder just at the thought of it.
In the end it is the sum of the parts, not the parts themselves that matter.  The players here are collectively committed to not just playing at a high level but they are simply out of their bodies and minds here. This is a true piece of art that will be even better 500 years from now.
2381388
Excellent, excellent, excellent.  Nothing else but excellent.
2588537
90 people have bothered to review this album and it still maintains its 5 star rating, despite the fact that the album is radically not to everybody's taste. That should be your first hint that there is something  very special about this CD. My family nearly left me because I became  practically addicted to this album for years, playing it once a day for  months, maybe years, on end. After nearly five decades of listening to  rock, I think this is the most astonishingly original and beautiful album  in rock history. I say this even though after 500 listens, I still do not  know the titles of most of the tracks. The experience of listening to it  more closely approximates classical music than rock, in the sense that  "Loveless" is all of a piece--there is nothing to cut out or  skip. To me the music remains always fresh and challenging not to mention  drop dead gorgeous, though many of my friends think it is the ultimate in  cacophony. No wonder Kevin Shields has never been able to follow this album  up with a new release. How does any artist follow a work of perfection.
4774937
Can't say enough good things so I won't even try.
3420779
Thank you so much, Mr.  Perlman. And even though it's hard to find the words of appreciation for your compassion, understanding and talent, that you bring to the world',
All I can say : " IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER " THEN LISTENING TO YOU  AT THE TIME OF DISPAIRE, HAPPINESS AND HOPE".
Forever , your humbled fan.
Slava.
3061246
I have now read all but Killing Patton, and I couldn't recommend them any higher. They are beautifully written, and easy to read. The learning experience is one that can't be matched. What we're taught in school is only a small portion of the truth, if any at all. I'm so thankful to Bill
1030627
I'm sure I can't say anything that hasn't already been said about this book.  It's awesome, amazing, phenomenal, and any other word you can come up with to describe something great. It was worth every penny.
2193822
I choose this rating because it is more than I expected. I cannot tell others how much I appreciate it!
3506503
It cannot be overstated how this tool has magnified my personal coolness.  Not a day passes where I fail to have at least one person inquire as to what I have done to possess such a high, personal concentration of raw awesomeness.  On almost every occasion I merely say "Shard", and they understand and move on.

And I haven't even addressed my actual uses of the tool.  I have used it to do everything it boasts, and I laud it for that.  But what is most important is my new social status as Coolest Man Alive.

Thank you Gerber.  Thank you Shard.
1652526
Never ceases to amaze me and keep the praises going up.
3059950
I don't know how to rate this as anything less than awesome.  It is the 5th star of the 5th star.
2947854
Words cannot explain how great an album this is.  Every track is nothing more than absolute bliss...  I can barely find the words to stress the fact the fact that this is without a doubt one of the best CD's I've ever heard...  Perfect blending of music from every genre.  This album crosses so many musical boundaries, it's amazing to think it came out this well.  No other artist out there could pull off something as great as this.  This album, since the first day I bought it, has remained in my CD changer.  Every track flows seamlessly to the next, from soul to rap to R&B to rock...  It's unbelievable.  No commercialism in this LP at all, and it couldn't be better.

If you were thinking about buying this album, stop any and all negative thinking, there should be none.