As a long time fan of Frederick Forsyth, I’ve missed his writings of late. When my friend gave me this book to read citing difficulty “getting into it”, I worried that Mr. Forsyth had lost his touch.

Not to fear however, as the plot, dialog and characters in this book rank right up there with Mr. Forsyth’s finest.

The Afghan is more than a mere novel.

As any good writer should do, Mr. Forsyth has researched the Afghan wars and the culture exhaustively. He speaks knowingly of the terrain, language and diversity of religion and cultures in the area of India, Pakistan, Izbekistan and Afghanistan. It’s an education to read what he has written. His scenes smack of first hand knowledge and no villian is bigger than life nor is any hero in the book.

The plot centers around a phrase repeated in correspondence intercepted between high ranking Al Qaeda operatives by a joint force of US and British operatives. Feeling that this phrase is indicative of another strike against the world of global proportions by Al Qaeda, a plan is devised to put in place a ringer for a known and respected Taliban fighter. The right man is found and trained and the events that put him in place to execute the counterintelligence plan begins.

This is no happy-ever-after novel where the hero goes home to a hero’s welcome and the girl. It’s a dirty, harsh, horrifying and all too plausible tale of terrorism. All in all, it’s a great read!

The Afghan by Frederick Forsyth
Published by GP Putnam’s Sons 2006
ISBN 0-399-15394-2