Rating: 
Summary: Loose Lips Sink Literary Ships
Review: My wife dismissed this book as just another entry in the expanding genre of Chick Lit, but I found it a little more interesting than that.Admittedly, the character, Selena, does tend to whine a little bit too much, but that, I think, has to be expected, considering her background as a somewhat spoiled product of East Coast suburbia. She does reveal a certain wit, though, especially about her background as a dopehead, and about her inability to learn to drive a car. Her description of basic training with the CIA seems to be accurate, based of what I've heard from friends of mine who went through the same thing. And Selena does expose some of the career-damning pettiness of working at HQ in Langley, aka Death Star. The problem, though, is that, aside from some soap-opera weeping, there really isn't a strong story told here. About halfway through the book it became obvious nothing is going to happen beyond the routine back-stabbing one would experience working in a bank. And that, I'm afraid, keeps this book from rising above the level of yet another testimony of How Cruel Office Politics Are. Thus, the story is mired in the very pettiness it seeks to criticise.
Rating: 
Summary: Romantic fiction in the CIA
Review: Selena Keller decides to apply for employment with the CIA simply because she is bored. Much to her surprise she is contacted, asked to undergo the required testing and is entered as a new recruit. So starts the journey from the preliminaries to the Farm training facility. Her story includes an unlikely romance and it is this that much of the tale revolves around. The real mystery is - will Selena make it to full agent status?
On the surface this debut novel appears to be a thriller or a primer on the CIA. However, it is actually a very well written tale of a recruit just trying to survive the training while maintaining some control over her life. This will appeal primarily to those who enjoy romantic fiction. Not my type of book but I could appreciate the fine writing.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: This book surprised me. It was highly original to me- a inside look at the CIA and its operatives from the female perspective. It's got all the intrigue you'd expect from a book dealing with spies, plus the obligatory romantic subplot. But the romance isn't what you'd expect. The glamorous protagonist, Selena Keller ends up with the unassuming Stan, an overweight, socially inept, minimally successful loner. Their romance begins ideally, but soon sours. The plot is pretty fast pace, but lags towards the end, and the ending itself was somewhat unsatisfactory. On the whole, though, and I'd recommend to anyone who wants to read something other than the usual fluff that gets written about twentysomethings.
Rating: 
Summary: Ever wanted to join the CIA?
Review: This is a story about Selena Keller, who on a whim, decides to send her résumé to the CIA. What follows is a battery of tests and then finally training, to become a spy. I'm not sure how much of the book is actually based on fact, but I found all Serena's training to be incredibly interesting. Besides being trained, we see Selena fall in love with Stan, another spy in training, or is he? About 75% of the book focused on Selena's job and the other 25% was on her personal life, so I found it harder to get attached to the characters. Her boyfriend, Stan, seemed like a particularly strange guy for her, but maybe it's because Selena's character wasn't explored so much, so I didn't feel like I really knew her. All in all, an entertaining read for anyone who has ever dreamt of being a spy, or has seen "The Recruit".
Rating:
Summary: Ever wanted to join the CIA?
Review: This is a story about Selena Keller, who on a whim, decides to send her résumé to the CIA. What follows is a battery of tests and then finally training, to become a spy. I'm not sure how much of the book is actually based on fact, but I found all Serena's training to be incredibly interesting. Besides being trained, we see Selena fall in love with Stan, another spy in training, or is he? About 75% of the book focused on Selena's job and the other 25% was on her personal life, so I found it harder to get attached to the characters. Her boyfriend, Stan, seemed like a particularly strange guy for her, but maybe it's because Selena's character wasn't explored so much, so I didn't feel like I really knew her. All in all, an entertaining read for anyone who has ever dreamt of being a spy, or has seen "The Recruit".
Rating: 
Summary: A sharp, witty, tongue-in-cheek "expose'"
Review: What a terrific read! This novel captures, at once, the essence of living lives wrapped up in secrets, sex and scandal. It seems all too real, and the author takes us deep into the bowels of one of the most mystical and secretive agencies in the world (I hesitate in saying "incompetent" because....well, recently they seem to be doing a tad bit better.) We are made to sympathize with, admire, cheer for and ultimately adore the quirky heroine, Selena. At the same time, we feel the loathing and anger towards the ridiculously boorish, frustrating and annoying twerp of a man she selected, thinking to ourselves: Why? You're so much better than that! I found the detail and explanation of the different stages of training as a CIA Ops Officer completely satisfying and intriguing. Perhaps I should throw my hat in the ring, too? ;-) All in all, a fascinating, fun experience. Berlinski is a master of wit - I found myself laughing out loud, with tears in my eyes at some points, and at others, I found myself in a murderous rage. Only a wonderful author can make the reader swing so swiftly between such emotional highs! Thanks for this contribution, and I can't wait to read more of your work!
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