The Paladin: A Spy Novel
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- Create Date：2021-06-08 08:51:36
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：David Ignatius
- ISBN：039386748X
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Summary
In this latest novel from the “dean of international intrigue” （Brad Thor） and New York Times best-selling author David Ignatius， CIA operations officer Michael Dunne is tasked with infiltrating an Italian news organization that smells like a front for an enemy intelligence service。 Headed by an American journalist， the self-styled bandits run a cyber operation unlike anything the CIA has seen before。 Fast， slick， and indiscriminate， the group steals secrets from everywhere and anyone， and exploits them in ways the CIA can neither understand nor stop。
Dunne knows it’s illegal to run a covert op on an American citizen or journalist， but he has never refused an assignment and his boss has assured his protection。 Soon after Dunne infiltrates the organization， however， his cover disintegrates。 When news of the operation breaks and someone leaks that Dunne had an extramarital affair while on the job， the CIA leaves him to take the fall。 Now a year later， fresh out of jail， Dunne sets out to hunt down and take vengeance on the people who destroyed his life。
Dunne knows it’s illegal to run a covert op on an American citizen or journalist， but he has never refused an assignment and his boss has assured his protection。 Soon after Dunne infiltrates the organization， however， his cover disintegrates。 When news of the operation breaks and someone leaks that Dunne had an extramarital affair while on the job， the CIA leaves him to take the fall。 Now a year later， fresh out of jail， Dunne sets out to hunt down and take vengeance on the people who destroyed his life。
Reviews
Jean
，
I hear David Ignatius’ commentary on Morning Joe。 I chose this book as a break from the critical issues books I’ve been reading。It was a fine diversion。
Jay
，
When readers first meet Michael Dunne at the start of the David Ignatius spy thriller THE PALADIN， he's a man who has lost everything。Freshly released from prison， the ex-CIA operative has lost his wife， daughter and unborn son。 He's only just regained his freedom but he's lost his job due to breaking regulations。 The fact he was ordered to do so seems to have played little part in him avoiding his sentence because those that set him on the path of the failed operation are covering things up。So When readers first meet Michael Dunne at the start of the David Ignatius spy thriller THE PALADIN， he's a man who has lost everything。Freshly released from prison， the ex-CIA operative has lost his wife， daughter and unborn son。 He's only just regained his freedom but he's lost his job due to breaking regulations。 The fact he was ordered to do so seems to have played little part in him avoiding his sentence because those that set him on the path of the failed operation are covering things up。So as Dunne returns home to Pittsburgh to begin rebuilding some semblance of his life， he's also a man out for revenge against those who brought him down and destroyed his life。Of course， things aren't quite so simple as that。 Dunne's own part in his professional demise isn't brushed off in the story's narrative。 He made stupid mistakes of his own that made it easier to destroy his reputation。 But that's a bit inconsequential to what came afterwards。Calling on friends that will still talk to him， Dunne sets up a new business that is serving two purposes。 A new professional outlook AND a way to track down those responsible for what happened to him so he can get his revenge and destroy them。But as Dunne digs deeper， he finds there's even more at play than simply using him as a convenient pawn in a game of international intrigue。 And now， those he wants revenge on are back on his trail with the notion of taking him out of the game once and for all。This was one hell of a page turning story。 The plot splits between current day and flashes back to the mission that failed and started Dunne's downfall。 David Ignatius imbues the story with a fast moving pace and then populates it with characters that are fully reprehensible， yet make you want to see what they will get up to next。 The fact that the central "hero" of the story is a hugely flawed individual whose own stupidity and stubborn attitude towards those who warn him off serve to help and hurt his cause gives readers a full picture of Michael Dunne and all the events swirling around him。I was really intrigued by the book's plot and couldn't wait to see what was coming next。 Of course， some of the more technical aspects of the main plot was hard to understand as it dealt with a level of computer sophistication that is far beyond my understanding。 But a full technical understanding of the ins and outs of all that tech gobbledygook isn't really necessary to enjoy a fairly compelling story that will make you question just how much you can trust the information we all seek out every day。 。。。more
Scott
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Another well-written intrigue。
Suzanne
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Loved it。 Fast paced ，with interesting characters。
Larry Deaton
，
David Ignatius scores again！ He tells a story of an ex-CIA officer who has been sentenced to prison for a year after being convicted of spying on an American journalist。 He was set up 。。。 we know that at the beginning， but we don't know exactly why。 And that is the lead in to an exciting tale of revenge where in seeking personal justice he stumbles on a major cyberattack in the planning。What distinguishes Ignatius from many others who write popular thrillers is his inside knowledge of how intell David Ignatius scores again！ He tells a story of an ex-CIA officer who has been sentenced to prison for a year after being convicted of spying on an American journalist。 He was set up 。。。 we know that at the beginning， but we don't know exactly why。 And that is the lead in to an exciting tale of revenge where in seeking personal justice he stumbles on a major cyberattack in the planning。What distinguishes Ignatius from many others who write popular thrillers is his inside knowledge of how intelligence community actually works， combined with his attention to character development。 Many writers can develop great plots， but Ignatius really makes it fascinating in revealing inner details of a character's life。 。。。more
Stephen Bonebrake
，
I appreciate his editorials more。 This is a good yarn but I had a hard time getting emotionally involved。 Not much empathy for the protagonist。
Jim
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I really didn't like this book at all。 I found the character development to be virtually non-existent， and what there was made the characters thoroughly unlikeable。 I believe this is the first novel I have ever read where I did not like a single character。 There were also some rather silly coincidences in the plot that made little sense to me。Other reviewers have said this is Ignatius' worst book。 I'll trust that and try another one eventually。 I really didn't like this book at all。 I found the character development to be virtually non-existent， and what there was made the characters thoroughly unlikeable。 I believe this is the first novel I have ever read where I did not like a single character。 There were also some rather silly coincidences in the plot that made little sense to me。Other reviewers have said this is Ignatius' worst book。 I'll trust that and try another one eventually。 。。。more
Ray C
，
I just couldn't finish this。 Its such a jack off for boring conservative white men。 I'm none of that except white so I just can't with it。 Dnf 60%。 I gave it a go。 Here's a quote that did make me laugh out loud tho， "dune watched a figure identical to Obama， speaking in the unmistakable high， thin， precise voice of the president。。。" IMAGINE BEING SO DUMB YOU DESCRIBE OBAMAS VOICE AS HIGH AND THIN 😂💀 I just couldn't finish this。 Its such a jack off for boring conservative white men。 I'm none of that except white so I just can't with it。 Dnf 60%。 I gave it a go。 Here's a quote that did make me laugh out loud tho， "dune watched a figure identical to Obama， speaking in the unmistakable high， thin， precise voice of the president。。。" IMAGINE BEING SO DUMB YOU DESCRIBE OBAMAS VOICE AS HIGH AND THIN 😂💀 。。。more
Blane Falsetta
，
Listened to it on audible and hated it。 I could barely keep up with the story line or time line for that matter。 One of the worst books I have ever had。
Tim Parks
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Not great。 The book feels written in a way that tries to be all things to all people。 The action is okay。 The build up is great and then the resolution feels very rushed。 Not a very satisfactory finish。 Strong language throughout （including the f word）。 You can find better entertainment elsewhere。
Lladroluv
，
Liked it。 CIA agent asked to do something that if he is caught—the CIA won’t help him。 He has to fight to try to keep his family。
Treva Hearne
，
The entire concept frightens me to the core。
Kam
，
The story of the CIA agent in the Paladin is really good！ What situations and intricate plots are happening in the world that David Ignatius has created！ Really a page turner！
Dee Roll
，
Great mystery， made me want to read straight through ！
Sarah Inghram
，
Fiction or RealityThis was a fast paced truer than fiction espionage novel。 If you love a good conspiracy then enjoy this one！
Noelle Klein
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Sadly this book is not great， I think I expected more fromThis writer。This story does not have much substance， reading it is like watching a bunch of motocycles going around the block wrooom wrooom wrooom。。。。uninteresting and very boringNot sure that I can finish it！
Steve Warsaw
，
I really loved The Increment， but my last two forays into Ignatius have been disappointing。 I expected John LeCarre like plots and was sorely disappointed。 I would have rather read some of the posthumous Tom Clancy branded novels。
Kevin
，
I've enjoyed all of the David Ignatius novels I've read over the years， and enjoyed reading this one too。 I've enjoyed all of the David Ignatius novels I've read over the years， and enjoyed reading this one too。 。。。more
Dean
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An interesting diversionary novel。Makes one consider how the web and its computer banks could possibly be configured to mislead the unwary public。 Apropos given our 45th U。S。president that pushed the fake news theory。 I have read other David Ignatius novels and found them compelling reads。 This novel is a techie read that I found compelling as well。
Jerry
，
Did not finish？？ Another book came in to read。
Kem White
，
I'm a big fan of spy novels and a big fan of David Ignatius。 I've been reading his books for years。 He has insight into how tradecraft works and that understanding comes through in his novels。 I liked this one as well though there was a tad too much "deus ex machina" in it as just the right person with just the right influence shows up to help the protagonist。 Nevertheless， "The Paladin" was a fun， quick read。 Recommended for fans of spy novels。 I'm a big fan of spy novels and a big fan of David Ignatius。 I've been reading his books for years。 He has insight into how tradecraft works and that understanding comes through in his novels。 I liked this one as well though there was a tad too much "deus ex machina" in it as just the right person with just the right influence shows up to help the protagonist。 Nevertheless， "The Paladin" was a fun， quick read。 Recommended for fans of spy novels。 。。。more
Simon
，
Couldn't put it downBrilliant storytelling， keeps you hooked from start to finish。 In today's world of AI， thoroughly believable。 I highly recommend it。 Couldn't put it downBrilliant storytelling， keeps you hooked from start to finish。 In today's world of AI， thoroughly believable。 I highly recommend it。 。。。more
Woody James
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The book was pretty good but I don't think David Ignatius will become my next favorite author。 The book was pretty good but I don't think David Ignatius will become my next favorite author。 。。。more
Sarah Faulkner
，
Good book -- riveting， kept me company while driving！
Linda
，
This book jumped from 2 to 3 stars because of the ending （left open as I assume there will be another book）。 The book is only 300 pages but the first half was painfully slow and I could not see where it was going。 It also had two components that I don’t care for - lots of high tech and activity in a number of foreign countries。 But the ending was decent enough for it not to be a total waste。 While a decent Washington Post columnist， I am not sure I will read more of his novels。
Chuck
，
Excellent CIA thriller， lots of geeky tech stuff but great plot and characters
Lucinda Hutman
，
A fun read。 Kept my interest。
Bob Morrison
，
Good read- ending not so good- CIA computer geek/agent set up by higher up- loses family，does prison time- gets out，seeks revenge against everyone who ruined his life- mostly foreign geeks and bankers- he gets revenge with the geeks and bankers，but only gets to punch CIA guy who set it all up- ending is friend of main character，retired cia， sitting down with reporter， to tell all- just an underwhelming end
Tim
，
Nothing exceptional here。 An average story。 4 of 10 stars
Beach Bum
，
PainfulA book that flicks from one timeline to another so many times， that even with chapter headings with the relevant story date it's difficult to keep upBook starts in 2016， for 1 or 2 chapters then jumps to 2018， runs for a while， then back to 2016。 A terrible way to read a book。 Write it in chronological order， it so much easierThe only good bit it the main character， but no matter how good， the format killed any possible enjoyment。 Won't be continuing with the series or the author PainfulA book that flicks from one timeline to another so many times， that even with chapter headings with the relevant story date it's difficult to keep upBook starts in 2016， for 1 or 2 chapters then jumps to 2018， runs for a while， then back to 2016。 A terrible way to read a book。 Write it in chronological order， it so much easierThe only good bit it the main character， but no matter how good， the format killed any possible enjoyment。 Won't be continuing with the series or the author 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Paladin: A Spy Novel
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Paladin: A Spy Novel&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft