Review of Web of deceit

[Jaituni Sanghavi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Web of deceit" by C J Carroll.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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There are few books that literally and completely live up to their name, such as Web of Deceit by C.J. Caroll. The story is truly a web, and a global one at that, as it is spread out all over the world. This book, which falls into the thriller genre, follows Petty Officer Joe Crew, an Australian naval officer, who is offered the position of a technical officer with additional responsibilities in conducting passive counterintelligence operations; however, what was supposed to be a passive assignment soon turns out to be a dangerous one that entangles Joe in an international conspiracy. The story unfolds globally, taking place in locations like Los Angeles, Russia, the Philippines, and more.

When Joe goes to Los Angeles, he meets a kind woman named Maria, a Filipino embassy staffer and single mother who has her secrets and a tragic past. Then we have the father-son duo, Petra Marek and Gustav Marek, who are Czech spies; they want to manipulate Maria for their ulterior motives. A lot is happening in the background, and I cannot possibly write it all down here. All I can say is that there is a huge spy network, and a lot of secrets get unveiled. There is blackmail, chasing, and much more. It is like a high-stakes drama, and you will enjoy it if you like such stories.

I enjoyed the book, and it somehow felt believable on many levels. The characters are well brought out, and the action scenes fit well in the story. There are some loose ends, but that's okay according to me in such a high-stakes espionage story. Plus, the way in which the personal stories are linked to geopolitical conflicts is something that appealed to me. The parallel story about Dirk and all the shady things he did was really dark and gruesome. This makes the book suitable only for adult readers owing to the graphic content.

Overall, I think the author planned and wrote the story really well. The plot stays strong throughout, and the author is bold enough to tie so many plotlines together. Thus, considering my likes for the book and the author's talent, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I took off a star from the rating because of the errors I found while reading. Apart from this, I don't have any dislikes for the book that warrant a deduction of any more stars from the rating. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys global thrillers.

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Web of deceit
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[Kibet Hillary]

I am glad that the book encompasses events from many countries and places around the globe. The fact that Joe Crew's assignment from passive counterintelligence to one that entails deep secrets and a whole network of spies makes the book really enthralling.
Many thanks for the amazing, informative, @Jaituni Sanghavi.