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The Persian

David McCloskey

Book cover: The Persian

From the Sunday Times-Bestselling author of The Seventh Floor

A great spy writer’ Tim Shipman

What happens when a spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception?

Kamran Esfahani, a Persian Jewish dentist from Stockholm, dreams of starting afresh in California. To finance his new life, he agrees to spy for Mossad in Iran, working with a clandestine unit tasked with sowing chaos and sabotage inside the country. When he’s captured by Iranian security forces, Kamran is compelled to confess his experiences as a spy, in a testimonial dealing not only with the security of nations, but also with revenge, deceit, and the power of love and forgiveness in a world of lies.

Mixing suspense with strikingly cinematic action, David McCloskey takes readers deep into the shadow war between Iran and Israel, delivering propulsive storytelling and riveting tradecraft.

THE FOURTH NOVEL FROM FORMER CIA OFFICER, THE REST IS CLASSIFIED PODCAST CO-HOST AND THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ***THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR***DAMASCUS STATION (‘One of the best spy thrillers in years’ THE TIMES) AND ***SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR*** MOSCOW X

Hardback

ISBN: 9781800754027

Published: January 29, 2026

Ebook

ISBN: 9781800754034

Published: September 30, 2025

Book cover: The Persian

Category:
Fiction

Reviews for The Persian

Praise for Damascus Station:

‘One of the best – and most authentic – spy thrillers in years’ – The Times

‘Simply marvellous storytelling…a stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre’ – Financial Times

‘Breathlessly gripping and truly terrifying’ – Simon Sebag Montefiore

‘The best spy novel I have ever read’ – General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA

‘High drama and twists with characters you care about. There is much here on love and loyalty as well as deep cover operations. It’s deep and satisfying … traits of great tradecraft and headlong dash to the end. It proves he is a great spy writer’ – Tim Shipman, Spybrary

Author

David McCloskey

Author image: David McCloskey

David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and former consultant at McKinsey & Company. While at the CIA, he worked in field stations across the Middle East and briefed senior White House officials and Arab royalty. He lives in Texas.