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'The Persian' is a spy thriller written by former CIA analyst David McCloskey

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October 15, 2025

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David McCloskey keeps writing spy thrillers – and the plots keep coming true. In the opening of his latest novel The Persian, Israel has just launched a surprise attack on Iran. But the author says he had already finished writing by the time conflict broke out between the two nations earlier this year. In today’s episode, McCloskey speaks with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly about working at the intersection of reality and fiction, and having his work reviewed by the CIA.

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David McCloskeyThe Persian IsraelIran ButNPRs Mary Louise KellyCIA ToNPR Privacy Policy

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'The Persian' is a spy thriller written by former CIA analyst David McCloskey · NPR Podcasts · Sentinel