'The Running Target' is one of prolific spy novelist Gerald Seymour's earlier efforts, published in 1989. As with all (or most.... I haven't read them all, yet) of his efforts, there are great characters, tight spycraft, complex plots and subplots, excellent writing, and a story told from the perspective of several of its participants. Seymour knows his stuff and writes confidently of the world of spies.

Many of the topics addressed in the plot are familiar: a drug epidemic, terrorism in the Middle East, lack of cooperation between law enforcement agencies, arms sales to bad actors on the world stage. There's a twist that's unique in that a young Iranian man whose family was murdered by the State during the Islamic revolution is exacting revenge by killing anyone and everyone who participated in the murders. He has a connection to, and the clandestine support of, the British Iran Desk's spymaster and he is financing his efforts through very unconventional methods. There's a change at the top of MI6 and the Iran Desk head is sent out into the field to meet with the agents he's running inside the country, which is apparently never done (and the action in the novel shows exactly why). I won't go further to avoid spoiling the plot, but it's a complicated, violent story with a lot of layers, action, and introspection.

It's taken me awhile to get comfortable with Seymour's writing technique, but I've come to appreciate it. The use of multiple characters really keeps the tension high and allows for the understanding of complex plot details from different perspectives. The Running Target was a great example of the effectiveness of his style. If you're into spy thrillers, this is a good one. ( )