The Persian

A Novel

By: David McCloskey

Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi

From former CIA analyst and best-selling author David McCloskey, a novel that takes listeners deep into the shadow war between Iran and Israel.

Kamran Esfahani, a dentist living out a dreary existence in Stockholm, agrees to spy for the Mossad after he’s recruited by Arik Glitzman, the chief of a clandestine unit tasked with running targeted assassinations and sabotage inside Iran. At Glitzman’s direction, Kam returns to his native Tehran and opens a dental practice there, using it as a cover for the Israeli intelligence agency. Kam proves to be a skillful asset, quietly earning money helping Glitzman smuggle weapons, run surveillance, and conduct kidnappings. But when Kam tries to recruit an Iranian widow seeking to avenge the death of her husband at the hands of the Mossad, the operation goes terribly wrong, landing him in prison under the watchful eye of a sadistic officer whom he knows only as the “General.”

And now, after enduring three years of torture in captivity, Kamran Esfahani sits in an interrogation room across from the General, preparing to write his final confession.

Kam knows it is too late to save himself. But he has managed to keep one secret—only one—and he just might be able to save that. In this haunting thriller, careening between Tehran and Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Stockholm, David McCloskey delivers an intricate story of vengeance, deceit, and the power of love and forgiveness in a world of lies.

©2025 David McCloskey (P)2025 Audible, Inc.

McCloskey's best yet

Engrossing story and extraordinary narration. I've just discovered this contemporary writer and his books have been the hit of my summer reading/listening. Keep them coming!

How flat the main character, Kam, feels.

I really wanted to like The Persian. I’ve enjoyed David McCloskey’s earlier work but this one just didn’t land for me. I spent five chapters trying to figure out why I should even care about Kam and the character never quite took shape. The story feels a bit weak and familiar. Not terrible, just uninspired. Maybe it will click for someone else but it wasn’t my cup of tea this time. I’d say skip it and wait for his next one.

off topic

After the exhausting effort to develop the characters then abandon them....
Looking forward to more of the original characters.

Really unique use of the timeline!

Exciting read that touches on current events. Does not seem far fetched at all in today’s world.

Slow start - Excellent Finish

The author was ambitious in his use of timeline and it really grates at the start - similarly the narrator over acts - but both the story and narrator improve markedly … overall it was a great read that I am glad I stuck with