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CIA operatives are common characters in modern fiction but tend to be portrayed by one of two stereotypes. The first one is casually cruel, a bit obtuse, potentially on the take, and generally unpleasant. The second is almost superhuman in ability, always managing to find a way to save the day despite seemingly impossible odds. The author, though, offers a more believable and refreshing look at a "company" man in his novel set in turbulent Southeast Asia.
John Walker is a naval aviator who is at first recruited by the CIA to take covert photos of various locations from a specially outfitted plane while on assignment with the Navy in the Philippines. However, as time goes on he finds himself involved in other activities such as helping one of the local agencies round up some gun smugglers and becoming a thorn in the side of the Islamic separatist group Abu Sayyaf. Reassigned to the States due to a bounty on his life, Walker goes through training to become a full-fledged CIA field operative and eventually returns to the Philippines as the Navy's military attaché to the U.S. Embassy. He resumes reporting on Russian and Chinese meddling in the country and offering covert aid such as working as a sniper for local authorities in their operations against Abu Sayyaf before once again being transferred when threats to his life begin to mount.
Unlike so many stories about the CIA's involvement overseas, Walter's book reads more like an interesting military biography rather than a spy thriller. The author's background as a naval aviator also enriches his novel with detailed descriptions of take-off and landing procedures of the various aircraft Walker flies. In short, this down-to-earth tale is a good choice for those who prefer realism to fantasy in their fiction.