Susan Hasler

Told from the point of view of several people, Susan Hasler, an ex-CIA employee, tells a story of a terrorist attack and how analysts try to sift through evidence to prevent it. Although this is a novel, the details of the way analysts work seem authentic, and descriptions of how politics interfere with the work the analysts do would explain a lot. Acronyms and code words make the text hard to get through at points, but overall this is an enjoyable read.

This slight novel seems more like an attack on incompetent superiors than an attack by terrorists on this country. I saw the author on C-span book TV and thought with her 28 years at the CIA the novel would shed some light on an analyst's life and work, it does very little of that. The subplots of romance and revenge were of no interest at all.

It only just dawned on me why the eagle insignia has rabbit ears on the book jacket. You'll have to read this chilling, funny take on Washington's spy community to find the reason. Ex-CIA speechwriter and analyst Susan Hasler's novel spin on the U.S. reaction to terrorist attacks is a distant cousin of "Catch-22," only -- in a couple of senses of the word -- more spooky. Cringe, and enjoy!