Bingo: Politics, Passport: Syria
This is a book that’s begging to be made into a movie, or maybe a prestige mini series. It ticks all the boxes.
Author David McCloskey, is a former CIA agent, so will have some great anecdotes for the promotional tour.
Main character Sam Joseph would be a great role for someone trying to break into the action hero gig before the old guys hog all the lead roles forever using CGI to stay young.
There are also strong female characters galore, from love interest Mariam to her feisty rebellious cousin Razan, her boss Bouthaina Najjer, intense CIA station boss Artemis Procter and more, including a sniper dubbed the Black Widow.
The settings will look great on the screen. Damascus itself, an ancient city beset by strife, although it will probably have to be doubled by somewhere a little less risky to shoot in. The side trips to Paris, the French Riviera and Tuscany will provide some picturesque variety and European sophistication. And Sam’s forbidden relationship with Mariam will provide some steamy sex scenes against these exotic backdrops.
There is plenty of action, from the prologue of an op gone wrong, to riots, and cat and mouse chases through streets and alleyways. The stakes are genuinely high for our protagonist, his source, and her country.
There is also a lot going on between the set pieces. The plot is complex but coherent, with most, but not all, of the bad guys given motives beyond greed or sadism. Events follow the shape of the real recent history of Syria, but with plenty of room for suspense and surprise.
Overall, an engaging spy thriller. I’ll probably watch it when it hits the screen.
