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From Classified Missions to Human Drama

 

The novel by B.W. Leavitt is a thriller that is truly a breath-taking piece of literature in the sense that it does not just narrate the espionage world with its sense of realism, but it also has a very emotional heart that makes a mission that is composed of secrets a very formidable human story. Although most spy-related novels are devoted to the elements of action and intrigue, Leavitt has managed to incorporate the aspects of high-stakes intelligence missions and personal sacrifice, emotional tension, and the deep psychological burden of the shadowy life. The outcome is a powerful story that would attract fans of thrillers, those who enjoy emotional drama, and readers who seek the stories, which touch the human heart in the middle of the perilous missions.

The main character of the novel is Brian Lewis, a New York State correctional officer, whose normal life is shattered after the arrival of the federal agents in the middle of the night. Assuming he is under questioning, Brian quickly finds out that he has been chosen to go on a covert operation that will alter all he knows concerning duty, loyalty as well as identity. Sucked into a secret base in the depths of the earth and into a secret intelligence center, he finds out that his military experience qualifies him perfectly as an undercover agent to go deep into the sewer in a mission that is way more than the police. This theatrical change preconditions the smooth mixture of the secret missions and the human pathos that pours the novel.

Leavitt takes the time and introduces readers to the fierce change that Brian undergoes as a civilian to a covert agent. Although the training is quite detailed and includes weapons handling, methods of international infiltration and survival, it is the inner conflict that is the most striking. The strong desire to be successful is balanced with the emotional heavy responsibility that Brian has of leaving his family behind without being able to explain the reason. The trip with an RV for a month with his wife, Sue Yong, and their children turns into a sad farewell veiled in secrecy. These scenes underline the emotionality of the mission and place Brian not only in a role of a spy-in-training, but also in a man between love and duty.

The storyline changes to a high-tension situation when Brian adopts a fake Russian name and arrives in a black site in Iran which is controlled by Russians. In this instance, the novel intertwines the suspense of the undercover intelligence and the psychological drama of carrying out a lie so well that any step would cost him his life. Another emotional complication is that Brian is hooked up with Jasmine, an Iranian agent posing as his wife. Their induced proximity, when they cannot be reliant, and their common disquietude produces an interesting piece of human narrative in the perilous operation. The readers are able to see the development of trust during a crisis and the development of emotional vulnerability as an asset and a threat in covert missions.

Leavitt is very successful in demonstrating that classified missions are not mere tactical actions but emotional paths. Each and every minute is filled with tension in Iran, whether it is getting through the tight control of the black site or acquiring photographic proof of the electromagnetic weapon being built. But in the most dramatic scenes the human element comes through. Brian constantly thinks about his family. The fact that he cannot help but long and be scared and hope makes him a character that readers would want to root.

The escape, planned with the phenomenal accuracy, is one of the strongest parts of the novel. Brian and Jasmine go through some sort of fake death including explosions and decoys, a sacrifice to save their true identities. In the case of Brian, it is an emotionally shocking event to observe his own death occurring, which helps him to underscore the great personal price of spying. It is the central moment of the novel the clash between covert operations and pure human feeling.

The emotional tension is not just eliminated once Brian returns to the United States and goes through the process of debriefing. The subsequent long-term psychological effect, the uncertainty as to what is in store and the hint that his mission is not necessarily over all leave the readers content and anxious to read more.

Author: Bruce Leavitt
Amazon: How To Train A Spy
Website: http://bwleavitt.com
Email:  bleavie@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563505357691
https://www.instagram.com/bwleavie/


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