Since its launch in early October, Under/Cover has focused largely on reviewing non-fiction books from major publishing houses. This week, we are featuring a review of a novel written by a military veteran and former CIA officer, J.R. Seeger. Seeger’s first novel, Mike4 comes from a smaller publishing house. In addition to the review, we are also sharing with you a Q&A we did with Seeger in which he describes his inspiration for writing the book, the process he went through, the procedures of getting the book cleared, and the challenges of trying to find a publisher. We think you will find the review, the interview and the book interesting.
By J.R. Seeger NFB Publishing, October 23, 2018
Reviewed by John Sipher
J.R. Seeger’s first novel Mike4 explores the intersection of war and espionage, and how recent conflict has seen a greater integration of civilian and military units, specifically CIA and the Special Forces community. Seeger’s unique background is ideally suited to exploring the dual themes of counterterrorism and counterintelligence. Seeger was one of the first CIA officers who entered Afghanistan following 9/11. He was tasked to work with local tribal leaders and the early teams of Special Forces operatives to destroy the Taliban, an effort that was dramatized in the popular movie 12 Strong. He presently writes for CIA’s in-house publication, “Studies in Intelligence.”
Mike4 is the story of Sue O’Connell, a young woman in the U.S. special forces who becomes a wounded warrior while chasing terrorists in Afghanistan. While tracking Al Qaeda elements in Jalalabad, she is wounded and loses a portion of her leg. Rather than leave the fight, she is trained in espionage tradecraft at the CIA.
While at the CIA’s “farm” training facility, she rekindles stories of her parents and her grandfather, who were Cold War-era CIA officers focused on battling the Soviet Union. Needless to say, a complicated past connects directly to contemporary Russia where the lines between Russian espionage and organized crime are difficult to discern. The plot thickens when O’Connell learns that the KGB was involved in killing her father.
O’Connell’s family secrets and her newfound missions overlap as she grapples with al Qaeda terrorists and Russian intelligence, both who are looking for opportunities to kill her. Long hidden family secrets add to the suspense.
Seeger has created an intriguing contemporary heroine who will certainly continue her adventures in future books. For his first effort, Mike4 tries to bite off quite a bit, and sometimes the acronyms and various plotlines make it hard to follow. The publisher’s lack of investment in the printing and editing also makes it harder to read than it should be, given the author’s pedigree. Nonetheless, Seeger is off to a good start in his second career as an author. I’m confident that we will see more of Sue O’Connell in the coming years.
This book earns a solid three out of four trench coats.
John Sipher spent 28 years as a member of CIA’s National Clandestine Service. He served in Moscow and ran CIA’s Russia operations and had multiple overseas tours including service as Chief of Station and Deputy Chief of Station. Sipher is a member of The Cipher Brief’s expert network.
