I would like to say that I took a gamble stepping outside my “comfort zone” in genre when I accepted to read Agency Rules. And I am thrilled that I made that decision. A novice reader in “spy-thriller’s”, this book was an absolute page turning, action packed delight!

Khalid Muhammad was able to take a complicated topic of terrorism from a foreign country and weave it into a fabulous intriguing novel for the common person. Terrorism as a whole instigates fear- and while fear is one emotion that I experienced throughout the book, I also became mesmerized by the intricate details of government workings to training of these assassins.

At times I became a bit unnerved at how I connected with some of the characters in the book. This is a far-cry from a love/hate novel. You will begin to relate to people you would think you never could, you might even begin to understand their own personal way of thinking. This novel went much deeper than a typical “us- against- you” mentality, this takes a unique author to be able to pull that off.

I would {and have} recommended Agency Rules to anyone that loves espionage stories, but also to anyone that is looking for an interesting thriller that will leave a huge impression on your psyche. ( )

Having read many spy thrillers set in and around America, it was a refreshing change to read Khalid Muhammad’s Agency Rules: Never an Easy Day at the Office. Set in Pakistan, we get to envision and understand a bit better how modern Pakistan operates as well as how the people of Pakistan adapt to the drastic changes in government.

This modern spy thriller gives us an inside view on the after effects of a terrorist attack on Karachi. Several government agencies weigh in on how to handle things, but like anything else, it takes a real person to execute ideas. In this case, it is Khamal- our hero.

Full of action, political maneuverings and strong plotting, this is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat tale. Anyone who loves reading the “Bourne” books or watching the modern “James Bond” films will love this book.
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"Never an Easy Day at the Office" is right. Great read. ( )

This is a compelling, well-written, and exciting trip to Islamabd, Lahore, Peshwar and other Pakistani cities.. it illuminates conflicting class and cultural disconnects between the political government and the miitary hierarchy. Taking a prominent role in events in ISi, the Pakistani intelleigence agency. A young officer who has showm success in alll his missions is rewarded with admission to the ISI traning school. There, he distinguishes himself as well, and his reward is a field assignment in Pakistan's Northwest, where no one is sure whether the primary allegiance is to Pakistan or to family of Al Qaeda/Taliban. This officer remains a hero and he is the axis upon which the narrative turns. As an introduction to one of the world's most compex nations, this is a fascinating peek inside. As a thrilling tale of the "good guys" defeating the "bad guys," it is completely satisfying. ( )