James Williams’ novel explores the world of Technical Ops, the often-unrecognized branch of the government agency dedicated to assisting high profile CIA field agents.

Readers meet Mike, a new member of the Office of Technical Services being mentored by senior officer Nate. Nate introduces Mike to colleagues at a pub during the retirement party of Bill Graham, the man who mentored Nate 20 years prior. While Nate’s career advanced, Bill seems resigned to the fact that his own ultimately lagged. As Nate regales Mike with “war stories” about his Ops experiences in Europe and Africa, he advises Mike that he’ll learn more during these drinking sessions than hours of formal classroom lectures and workshops.

With a timeline moving between the past and present, Williams explores the workings of the Technical Ops through Nate’s stories, illuminating their importance to the field agents as they obtain photographs of persons and documents, plant recording devices, and ultimately prove an integral part of the clandestine group that creates unique devices to assist the CIA with its numerous endeavors.

The story moves at a steady pace, much of it driven by conversations between the central characters as they advance their missions. While some passages can be rather detailed regarding the Ops’ preparation and training, readers drawn to the topic will likely appreciate the technical info. Williams skillfully builds tension and humor into tactical maneuvers, describing, for example, a foreign student who mistakenly thinks the words “target” and shooter” suggest he photograph a herd of goats rather than humans.

Some miscellaneous errors appear, i.e. missing or incorrect words. Also, a glossary of acronyms and abbreviations appearing at book’s end might be better served at the forefront.

General audiences might be deterred by the narrative’s many code words and plentiful CIA jargon, but those with curiosity about the CIA should find the details and intrigue interesting.

Also available as an ebook.