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Agent Micah Dalton #4
The Skorpion Directive
In Vienna for a top-secret meeting with ex-Mossad agent Issadore Galan, Micah Dalton senses that something is very wrong on the streets of the Ring District. Dalton's aggressive response to enemy surveillance makes him the target of a complex plot with the potential to shatter America's strategic alliances with the rest of the civilized world. Planned by an unknown foreign power and executed by a scarred Serbian killer known only as Smoke, the conspiracy pits Dalton against an ultrasecret U.S. agency and a cadre of trained KGB killers. In a blistering trajectory of events that takes him from Venice to the Balkans and the barren shoreline of North Africa, Dalton pushes himself to the edge of sanity in a desperate attempt to save his honor-and his life.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 9, 2015
The 4th book in the Micah Dalton series does not disappoint. Like the previous three, it's very well written, with interesting and original plot. The characters - most of them already known from the previous books - are so skillfully defined, that not only do they seem real, but unforgettable as well.
February 25, 2016
I'm seriously bummed that the next book isn't out yet and there's no news on when it might be published. This series took me by surprise, and I don't want it to end!
March 9, 2011
*Synopsis: In Vienna to meet with ex-Mossad agent Issadore Galan under top secret restrictions, a signal goes off in Micah Dalton's head, causing him to pause at the top of the subway escalator. Indeed, a telephoto shot of him was just made and sent. He glances at an advertising poster and observes the mark--a slash of blue--a pre-arranged code from Galan is telling him it's safe to proceed to the contact point. But this doesn't jibe with what he's feeling in the atmosphere of the old city.
Certain that he's under surveillance by a team, he takes action to confirm it, giving him his first look at the splendid Veronika Miklas. Her embarrassment at being so easily exposed by the undeclared CIA officer with a scary reputation leads to a long talk in the Regina Hotel bar, which ends in intense mutual interest to be further explored in his room.
Planned by an unknown foreign power and executed by a scarred Serbian killer known only as Smoke, the conspiracy pits Dalton against an ultrasecret U.S. agency and a cadre of trained KGB killers. In a blistering trajectory of events that takes him from Venice to the Balkans and the barren shoreline of North Africa, Dalton pushes himself to the edge of sanity in a desperate attempt to save his honor-and his life.
**Review** This is the 4th book in the Micah Dalton series and a bit more graphic than those before. It also reunites CIA Clean up operative Micah Dalton with Mandy Pownall who works out of the London Office. I highly recommend that anyone interested in starting this series, start from the beginning. Micah's character has some interest twists that you need to familiarize yourself with before proceeding.
The novel unfolds as the main character, Micah Dalton, a CIA operative, travels around the world to find the killer of his friend, Mossad agent Issadore Galan. Within the story Stone explores what would happen if someone in the intelligence world wants to create a rift between allies America and Israel. This book is also graphic in nature as Stone gives us an idea what Islamic terrorists do when torturing their victim, in this case Galan.
Women characters, Mandy Pownall and Veronika Miklas, play an important role in this book. Stone shows how women in the intelligence business have the talent to put together patterns, are good listeners, and can analyze well. The only problem is Veronika basically disappears off the screen over the course of the story itself.
Stone himself has an interesting history as well. He was once an intelligence officer for the army and a law enforcement official for a state agency. Stone does a decent job of putting together a storyline that had be captivated right to the ending.
Certain that he's under surveillance by a team, he takes action to confirm it, giving him his first look at the splendid Veronika Miklas. Her embarrassment at being so easily exposed by the undeclared CIA officer with a scary reputation leads to a long talk in the Regina Hotel bar, which ends in intense mutual interest to be further explored in his room.
Planned by an unknown foreign power and executed by a scarred Serbian killer known only as Smoke, the conspiracy pits Dalton against an ultrasecret U.S. agency and a cadre of trained KGB killers. In a blistering trajectory of events that takes him from Venice to the Balkans and the barren shoreline of North Africa, Dalton pushes himself to the edge of sanity in a desperate attempt to save his honor-and his life.
**Review** This is the 4th book in the Micah Dalton series and a bit more graphic than those before. It also reunites CIA Clean up operative Micah Dalton with Mandy Pownall who works out of the London Office. I highly recommend that anyone interested in starting this series, start from the beginning. Micah's character has some interest twists that you need to familiarize yourself with before proceeding.
The novel unfolds as the main character, Micah Dalton, a CIA operative, travels around the world to find the killer of his friend, Mossad agent Issadore Galan. Within the story Stone explores what would happen if someone in the intelligence world wants to create a rift between allies America and Israel. This book is also graphic in nature as Stone gives us an idea what Islamic terrorists do when torturing their victim, in this case Galan.
Women characters, Mandy Pownall and Veronika Miklas, play an important role in this book. Stone shows how women in the intelligence business have the talent to put together patterns, are good listeners, and can analyze well. The only problem is Veronika basically disappears off the screen over the course of the story itself.
Stone himself has an interesting history as well. He was once an intelligence officer for the army and a law enforcement official for a state agency. Stone does a decent job of putting together a storyline that had be captivated right to the ending.
December 31, 2014
This is the fourth book in the Micah Dalton series. Micah Dalton is a cleaner for the CIA, so his work takes him around the world throughout this book, as well as the others. I love these books.
The stories are great—lots of suspense and thrills, hand-to-hand fights, gun fights, car chases, explosions, conspiracies—pretty much everything that makes a wonderful story for me. Micah Dalton and the rest of the cast of characters are also engaging, well developed, defined, with just enough organic material to make them seem real and believable. I love the round-the-world travel, as well as the secrets and conspiracies. All of that is so far removed from my real life, stories like these are vicarious adventures for me.
In this book, Dalton is on his way to meet an old friend when things go bad. He notices immediately that he’s being tailed, which means the meet has been compromised. Abandoning the meet, he turns his attention to his watchers, trying to determine who they are and why they might be following him. Very shortly afterward, his friend is found tortured and murdered. Then Dalton becomes suspect number one. We follow Dalton across Europe as he works to figure out who killed his friend and why they worked so hard to put it on him.
One of my favorite things about Stone’s books is the writing. I love his complex sentences, the intelligent phrasing, and the sarcasm. And his dialogue is very good. Dialogue is a tricky thing, very difficult to get just right, at least that’s my opinion—as a reader and a writer. Dialogue can make or break a story for me. But Stone does it very well. I often laugh aloud while listening to these books (I listened to all four audiobooks—which are very well narrated, by the way). Stone’s dry, sometimes scathing, sarcasm has been a rare find for me, and something I thoroughly enjoy.
This book is not meant to be the end of the series. However, it was published in 2010, and no other books have come out since. I am very curious to know where the next book is, where David Stone might be, and why he hasn’t gotten the next book out. It would be very sad news if these four books were all we’ll see from this author.
If you like Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, or anything in the spy/thriller category, you’d very likely enjoy these books. They can be quite graphic, which is good for the characters and settings, but sometimes the physical violence turns my stomach a bit. In scanning some of the other reviews, these books aren’t for everyone. But if you haven’t tried them, I would very much encourage you to do so. And you could always listen to the audio version; they are very well done.
The stories are great—lots of suspense and thrills, hand-to-hand fights, gun fights, car chases, explosions, conspiracies—pretty much everything that makes a wonderful story for me. Micah Dalton and the rest of the cast of characters are also engaging, well developed, defined, with just enough organic material to make them seem real and believable. I love the round-the-world travel, as well as the secrets and conspiracies. All of that is so far removed from my real life, stories like these are vicarious adventures for me.
In this book, Dalton is on his way to meet an old friend when things go bad. He notices immediately that he’s being tailed, which means the meet has been compromised. Abandoning the meet, he turns his attention to his watchers, trying to determine who they are and why they might be following him. Very shortly afterward, his friend is found tortured and murdered. Then Dalton becomes suspect number one. We follow Dalton across Europe as he works to figure out who killed his friend and why they worked so hard to put it on him.
One of my favorite things about Stone’s books is the writing. I love his complex sentences, the intelligent phrasing, and the sarcasm. And his dialogue is very good. Dialogue is a tricky thing, very difficult to get just right, at least that’s my opinion—as a reader and a writer. Dialogue can make or break a story for me. But Stone does it very well. I often laugh aloud while listening to these books (I listened to all four audiobooks—which are very well narrated, by the way). Stone’s dry, sometimes scathing, sarcasm has been a rare find for me, and something I thoroughly enjoy.
This book is not meant to be the end of the series. However, it was published in 2010, and no other books have come out since. I am very curious to know where the next book is, where David Stone might be, and why he hasn’t gotten the next book out. It would be very sad news if these four books were all we’ll see from this author.
If you like Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, or anything in the spy/thriller category, you’d very likely enjoy these books. They can be quite graphic, which is good for the characters and settings, but sometimes the physical violence turns my stomach a bit. In scanning some of the other reviews, these books aren’t for everyone. But if you haven’t tried them, I would very much encourage you to do so. And you could always listen to the audio version; they are very well done.
May 3, 2011
This is the 4th in a series about Micah Dalton a CIA cleaner.
A cleaner is someone who goes in and cleans up the CIA messes-
Another good story with a lot of action
A cleaner is someone who goes in and cleans up the CIA messes-
Another good story with a lot of action
August 31, 2015
My 18 year old son suggested this David Stone novel to me. It is a much better read than your typical David Baldacci tale, of which I have lately been assigned to read several. There are flashes of clever writing throughout. The author knows how to leave things out and let your imagination fill in the gap. Evil people feel really evil. Anger feels raw. I'm not saying a spy such as Micah Dalton could exist, only that it is possible to spend pleasurable time in a world in which one imagines such a person existing - a master of weapons, of navigation, of electronics, able to egress and ingress any room without being noticed, capable of seeing three steps ahead when others see only two. Others shoot and miss - he shoots and hits, from a hundred meters, with a pistol. Yes, operational details and possibilities are somewhat (or absurdly) exaggerated for effect, but it is a spy *novel*, not a memoir. There is fun to be had here.
And when two spies meet, each playing a role, Stone writes in typical style:
~
“Yes. I’ve already booked you an adjacent suite.�
“How very tactful. It follows that you already have a suite?�
â€Ô¨±ð²õ.â€�
“Well, Mr. Castle, as your designated harlot I’ll be bunking with you. In flagrante. If only for the sake of the mission.�
“Mandy . . . we need to keep this—�
She set her flute down, glaring at him through the smoke.
“Oh no you don’t, you manky little git! I have had it with all this Hamlet hearts Ophelia stuff. Cora Vasari, a grown woman, on the flimsy excuse of a teensy-caliber bullet to the head, which she acquired only because she couldn’t follow Pascal’s simple instruction to sit quietly in her room, has allowed herself to be shut up in a tower like some dago Rapunzel, while you, my dear, have flirted with me as few men have and lived to tell the tale. Oh yes. I know. I let it slide after you stood me up in the middle of the Black Sea last winter. And if I were a cruel woman, I would call that the act of a sniveling eunuch. However, now that you’ve already boinked the Hessian Hussy, you will either stand and deliver tonight or die valiantly in the attempt. Are we clear on that?�
And when two spies meet, each playing a role, Stone writes in typical style:
~
“Yes. I’ve already booked you an adjacent suite.�
“How very tactful. It follows that you already have a suite?�
â€Ô¨±ð²õ.â€�
“Well, Mr. Castle, as your designated harlot I’ll be bunking with you. In flagrante. If only for the sake of the mission.�
“Mandy . . . we need to keep this—�
She set her flute down, glaring at him through the smoke.
“Oh no you don’t, you manky little git! I have had it with all this Hamlet hearts Ophelia stuff. Cora Vasari, a grown woman, on the flimsy excuse of a teensy-caliber bullet to the head, which she acquired only because she couldn’t follow Pascal’s simple instruction to sit quietly in her room, has allowed herself to be shut up in a tower like some dago Rapunzel, while you, my dear, have flirted with me as few men have and lived to tell the tale. Oh yes. I know. I let it slide after you stood me up in the middle of the Black Sea last winter. And if I were a cruel woman, I would call that the act of a sniveling eunuch. However, now that you’ve already boinked the Hessian Hussy, you will either stand and deliver tonight or die valiantly in the attempt. Are we clear on that?�
December 4, 2013
Well, when you buy an American thriller, you can expect a lot of fast paced action, ridiculous dialogues and sometimes a sizeable share of jingoism instead of a highly sophisticated novel. That's basically fine by me (I don't have to share the author's view) and "The Skorpion Directive" certainly delivers in that field.
However, there are too many major bloopers in this book to take it seriously. This is especially irksome if you happen to know some of the places described in the book. It starts when the Austrian capital city of Vienna (Wien in German) is constantly misspelled as 'Wein' (meaning wine in English). Perhaps this is only an issue with the Kindle version but there's much more. Austria, which takes pride in its neutrality, is wrongly described as a NATO member and Vienna had supposedly been occupied by the Soviets after World War II. This is only true for the northeastern provinces, Vienna itself was governed by all four occupying forces (the others being the Americans, the British and the French).
Furthermore, I understand that many authors like to throw in some words and phrases in the language of the country the story takes place in order to add some authenticity. However, it's advised to consult a native speaker for proof reading. Nobody talks and writes German like they do in this book, and some words don't even exist! Occasionally I was reminded of a blotched machine translation. In addition, the top level domains for Austria and Italy are .at and .it, not .au and .ita. A simple research would have sufficed.
And I could go on and on. Overall, a very sloppy work which puts a considerable damper on the reading experience.
However, there are too many major bloopers in this book to take it seriously. This is especially irksome if you happen to know some of the places described in the book. It starts when the Austrian capital city of Vienna (Wien in German) is constantly misspelled as 'Wein' (meaning wine in English). Perhaps this is only an issue with the Kindle version but there's much more. Austria, which takes pride in its neutrality, is wrongly described as a NATO member and Vienna had supposedly been occupied by the Soviets after World War II. This is only true for the northeastern provinces, Vienna itself was governed by all four occupying forces (the others being the Americans, the British and the French).
Furthermore, I understand that many authors like to throw in some words and phrases in the language of the country the story takes place in order to add some authenticity. However, it's advised to consult a native speaker for proof reading. Nobody talks and writes German like they do in this book, and some words don't even exist! Occasionally I was reminded of a blotched machine translation. In addition, the top level domains for Austria and Italy are .at and .it, not .au and .ita. A simple research would have sufficed.
And I could go on and on. Overall, a very sloppy work which puts a considerable damper on the reading experience.
October 26, 2012
This is the fourth Micah Dalton suspense novel, and the third I’ve read. The first was great, the second sucked, and this one is in the middle. Micah is a cleaner for the CIA, and usually is operating outside of operations, because as in this novel, he is being set up by the new US administration that wants to show they are sanitizing the CIA. It is never really clear why he is set up, but NATO asks German intelligence to get him for a murder. The author is a former CIA person, and I think Micah is his alter ego. Obviously he might not have been treated well, and in the book’s Micah always shoots someone in the government who has lied to him, killed his friend or in this case set him up to die. The author seems a bit angry. The first quarter of the book is good, when Micah is in Germany and has an affair with an agent there who is helping him, It reminds you of the Bourne movies. I liked both characters, but this it deteriorates with the bitchy CIA agent form London coming to help him, who smokes bright colored cigarettes. Do we care?
They fly all over, Ukraine, Gibraltar, Turkey, Marrakesh. The terrorist plot they foil of angry Serbs who hate Muslims and are trying to blow up a mosque. But the intrigue reminds you of Mission Impossible. It seems cool, but you have no idea what is going on. There is lots of indiscriminate killing, and all the women want to get it on with Micah, although he must be haggard by this time. I think I’ll say adieu to author Stone.
They fly all over, Ukraine, Gibraltar, Turkey, Marrakesh. The terrorist plot they foil of angry Serbs who hate Muslims and are trying to blow up a mosque. But the intrigue reminds you of Mission Impossible. It seems cool, but you have no idea what is going on. There is lots of indiscriminate killing, and all the women want to get it on with Micah, although he must be haggard by this time. I think I’ll say adieu to author Stone.
January 13, 2016
Wow, what an incredibly enjoyable novel! I would really like to have a plaque with text from the ending of this book quoting that super intelligently imagined, amusingly droll and typically bureaucratic report from Pontius Pilate to Rome detailing that historical Crucifixion!
Some time ago, my wife and I visited Casablanca and that impressively large Hassan II Mosque so it was quite interesting that site is a focal point in this imaginative novel. We have also enjoyed our tour of Gibraltar (interesting that GIB is the World Airport Code there!), and many of the other sites visited by the various characters. I also enjoyed my visit to Panama City, FL and the nearby Eglin AFB where I experienced and awesome military flight arsenal demonstration and associated awesome explosions!
I have learned that in military terms, a "klick" means a distance of 1000 meters (one kilometer, or .62 miles). So, if a Soldier radios, "We're 10 klicks south of your position," that means they are 10 kilometers away, or 6.2 miles away!
I determined that Micah Dalton, the "crocodile" was not deluded into allowing a "scorpion" to ride on his back across inhospitable waters as in the well know fable, but he was forced into this untenable situation and obviously prevailed!
Some time ago, my wife and I visited Casablanca and that impressively large Hassan II Mosque so it was quite interesting that site is a focal point in this imaginative novel. We have also enjoyed our tour of Gibraltar (interesting that GIB is the World Airport Code there!), and many of the other sites visited by the various characters. I also enjoyed my visit to Panama City, FL and the nearby Eglin AFB where I experienced and awesome military flight arsenal demonstration and associated awesome explosions!
I have learned that in military terms, a "klick" means a distance of 1000 meters (one kilometer, or .62 miles). So, if a Soldier radios, "We're 10 klicks south of your position," that means they are 10 kilometers away, or 6.2 miles away!
I determined that Micah Dalton, the "crocodile" was not deluded into allowing a "scorpion" to ride on his back across inhospitable waters as in the well know fable, but he was forced into this untenable situation and obviously prevailed!
Read
July 14, 2011It's the last in a series of four books that are definitely tied together, and really need to be read in order for the most enjoyment. If you can ignore the political right wing comments and view
points that pop up every so often, it is really an excellent series and I would recommend to anyone. Definitely not for the faint of heart, as there isn't any sugar coating on the action scenes, and there is a lot of action. I had fun reading all four and am kind of sad now that the experience is over.
points that pop up every so often, it is really an excellent series and I would recommend to anyone. Definitely not for the faint of heart, as there isn't any sugar coating on the action scenes, and there is a lot of action. I had fun reading all four and am kind of sad now that the experience is over.
September 3, 2013
Love this series by David Stone. Action, mystery, plenty of plot twists, very likable characters and enough diabolical villains to keep you gripped with suspense. The stories take place in some of the most exotic places in the world. Since I have been to many of those places, I can tell that the author has been there as well by his descriptions. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves books that are impossible to put down and walk away from.
May 19, 2010
Nonstop action, plenty of mayhem, and the reuniting of the colorful characters in the author's earlier Micah Dalton series. The plot revolves around Micah Dalton being setup by his employer--the CIA--and how he eventually extricates himself with help from the Israelis, Italians, and various clandestine service types along the way. It is an enjoyable and well told story.
October 27, 2011
Another fine written Micah Dalton experience.. The book had the same characters we have come to love and support. The plot/back plot was well researched as well.. Loved the book can't wait for the next David stone thriller. Thanks David for a truly entertaining series, I can't wait for the next installment.
August 7, 2023
I really like this series, but grew somewhat weary of "David Stone's" political views, blaming the "left" (LOL) for 9-11, "Losing" the Vietnam War [um, Conflict], and the decline of the effectiveness of international meddlings of the CIA.
July 2, 2011
american agent is framed for murder of his jewish undercover agent friend and plot follows the set up by his usa cia office. many twists and turns as story develops during his travels with other agents of mossad, italy, russia, ukraine and their efforts to assist to clear his name.
December 23, 2012
The first in this series that I have read but well-enogh written that I would try another by this author. This one is about a Muslim plot to carry out attacks in Europe and fix the blame on the US. Not particularly original or outstanding but it reads easily.
July 16, 2011
Think it is the best of the series. Begins to tie things together.
September 10, 2013
Another great book by David Stone. If you want some good spy books you need to read this series.
Want to read
April 23, 2015I quit reading it too much swearing and taking Gods name. So I didn't finish reading the book..
January 2, 2014
fantastic book, great hero!
September 12, 2013
A most excellent read
Read
June 23, 2015great
June 18, 2017
This was my favorite of the Micah Dalton series so far. Enough going on throughout the book to keep your interest, but did not give away too much throughout. An interesting blend of characters throughout the book, but a couple of key characters early on seemed to just drop out of the book.
January 7, 2018
Micah Dalton is on top form in The Skorpion Directive.
Another brilliant book in the series, I'm interested to know if there'll be any more books with Dalton, if there isn't then this isn't a bad way to end the series.
Another brilliant book in the series, I'm interested to know if there'll be any more books with Dalton, if there isn't then this isn't a bad way to end the series.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
June 10, 2024
Book 4 Stays true to the series, good use of characters. Jam packed with action.
July 28, 2024
Not bad and may try another.
December 6, 2011
I'm giving this book another chapter and then I'll bail out if it doesn't recover. I so enjoyed the first David Stone I read - The Echelon Vendetta - because it was so unique and the spy-thriller cliches were, at least to me, flavored and spun in a clever way.
This one opens up smoothly but as there is a shift in characters, it's as though a different author takes over. The dialogue gets ridiculous and the behavior of the characters makes less sense. I can overlook a lot - this is literary cotton candy - but I'm not getting it this time.
This one opens up smoothly but as there is a shift in characters, it's as though a different author takes over. The dialogue gets ridiculous and the behavior of the characters makes less sense. I can overlook a lot - this is literary cotton candy - but I'm not getting it this time.
April 21, 2010
Still like the characters (though I wanted Nikki to have more interaction with her boss/lover), most of whom were in the last book. Satisfyingly difficult-to-kill villain.
October 13, 2016
While the book has its flaws, it's still an enjoyable read. Ignore some of the spotty spy novel tropes and enjoy the action a David Stone novel can hold.
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