Peter Johnson is the burned out liberal reporter who, when interviewed by Larry King, assures America that there is no nuclear threat in Iran. What better person to work for Stewart Bancroft aka Banquo who is an alleged investment banker for the firm of Banquo and Duncan (there really is no Duncan) but who for the past 25 years has really been involved in human intelligence for the government? His "Ghosts" refer not only to the people he has collected over the years but to the fact that so much of what the ghosts do occurs in a 'different world" and is not acknowledged.  

 Johnson is approached by Al Jazeera to visit Iran and view the nuclear facilities "used only for medical purposes" and thus deny the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Prior to the visit, Johnson is turned by Banquo and while in Iran tries to assassinate the chief nuclear physicist to delay weapons production at least temporarily. After a harsh interrogation, the Iranians let him go in an effort to capture real American spies but with the help of two of Banquo's ghosts, Johnson escapes back to America. Iranian retribution in New York City and the response of the American government and espionage personnel consumes the remainder of the book.  

Lowry and Korman have written a most literate but all too political story infused with quotes from Aristotle, Shakespeare and others. Each chapter has a clever title. I particularly liked the All-Iran Burka Company which imported burkas and then sewed local labels on in Iran. There is much about the manipulation of information by the government and the media. The authors also include waterboarding as a means of securing vital information from terrorists, a subject very much in the news today and filled with moral conflicts.

Reader be advised that with the action comes quite a bit of serious political argument.  

--Jerry Solot