Red Cell by Mark Henshaw

Red Cell by Mark Henshaw is an exciting debut novel about CIA outcasts that are trying to prevent a world war. This is not a boring book in any way, and would make for an excellent summer read for people who enjoy action-packed adventure novels.

Book Description

“From the Tom Clancy for a new generation, a debut thriller following two CIA outcasts who must race to stop a secret Chinese weapon that threatens to provoke a world war.

After her first assignment in Venezuela goes disastrously awry, rookie case officer Kyra Stryker is brought back to Langley to work in the Red Cell, the CIA’s out-of-the-box think tank. There she’s paired with Jonathan Burke, a straitlaced analyst who has alienated his colleagues with his unorthodox methods and a knack for always being right, political consequences be damned.

When a raid on Chinese spies in Taiwan ends in a shoot-out and the release of a deadly chemical, CIA director Kathy Cooke turns to the Red Cell to figure out why China is ready to invade the island nation without any fear of reprisal from the US Navy. Stryker and Burke’s only lead is the top CIA asset in China, code named Pioneer. But when Pioneer reports that Chinese security has him under surveillance, Stryker is offered a chance for redemption with a highly dangerous mission: extract Pioneer from China before he’s arrested and executed. The answers he holds could mean the difference between peace in the Pacific or another world war.

From CIA headquarters to the White House to a Navy carrier in the South China Sea and the dark alleyways of Beijing, Red Cell takes readers on a whirlwind race against time as Stryker and Burke work to save Pioneer and discover the hidden threat to America’s power: China’s top-secret weapon.

CIA analyst Mark Henshaw infuses expert knowledge of the intelligence world into a pulse-pounding plot to create a fascinating, authentic, and unforgettable read.” – Red Cell

My Thoughts

Red Cell is detail oriented and beautifully written. The characters are all brought to life with the author’s excellent attention to detail and weaving a memorable story. The actual story takes place in a short amount of time, but it is full of suspense and action. This is a book that I could easily see being turned into a summer blockbuster movie. For now though, pick it up and enjoy it for the amazing book it is.

This isn’t the type of book that I usually grab to read. However, I was really taken in by it. I think that the author is amazing and the story was fantastic. This novel kept my attention, and left me wanting to see it take place in a movie. It is just that good.

* Thank you to the publisher of Red Cell, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.