The CIA tried to eliminate Poltergeist because they believed he was a threat. Poltergeist became the ghost they most feared.
The CIA and presidential cabinet members covertly enter into an agreement with the Palestinians to remove certain key Israeli government figures in a plan to enable the United States to claim that they engineered peace in the Middle East and gain the favor of Arabic countries and likely gain favor to increase energy supply. Sentinel, a group of angelic-type beings who monitor the Earth, are very concerned that the United States could be igniting a major conflict if the Israelis learn of the plan and retaliate. Taneen, an unscrupulous and deadly CIA operative convinces the CIA deputy director of operations to eliminate the agency’s most highly regarded operative, James Halyard, Codename Poltergeist, believing Halyard was a possible threat to their plans. Taneen won’t admit it, but he’s scared of Halyard who moves like a ghost through his missions and is jealous of Halyard’s deadliness. The attempt to kill Halyard fails, but they kill Halyard’s wife in the process. An angelic-like being from the Sentinel rescues Halyard who was seriously injured in the explosion that practically destroyed the hotel room he was sharing with his wife. Sentinel heals Halyard of his wounds. They have been monitoring Halyard for some time and give him the option of becoming an agent for their purposes with highly augmented mental and physical abilities. He agrees and truly becomes Poltergeist able to move silently with the grace and ease of a large predator. His earing, vision, and cognitive abilities are highly elevated, and he has the ability to move through the transparency to escape from confined spaces. Sentinel sends Poltergeist to unravel and thwart the conspiracy. Even with Poltergeist’s impressive abilities he finds Taneen to be elusive and very deadly. Poltergeist encounters several unforeseen allies, a highly capable and equally lethal MOSSAD agent, Deborah Eisman, who at first sought to eliminate him and a crusty homicide detective, Harry Sullivan who help Poltergeist battle Taneen and the CIA.
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
About a year ago. The beginning.
Cloudy, humid, and hot, the Parisian afternoon closed in around the outside of the small café off the Rue de Leons. A faded green awning crowned the narrow front of the eatery. The left corner of the awning where it attached to the face of the building was torn so that a-foot-long length of cloth hung toward the sidewalk. The slanted top of the awning was scarred black and dingy white from multiple bird droppings.
Two men, one youthful, with rumbled and innocuous clothing, fixed his gaze on the older man across the table from him or anyone looking in the man’s direction would think so. In actuality, the man’s eyes observed everything around him. The dark eyes never betrayed a thought or emotion, were framed by high cheek bones, and overshadowed by thick black wavy hair. The older male appeared to be at the far end of middle age. He was of unremarkable height and the protrusion of his stomach folded over the edge of the table. Their seats were positioned next to a hallway that led to one toilet and beyond that a single door that served as both an exit and a secondary entrance. Neither of them was concerned that any of the patrons seated toward the front would pay the slightest attention to them. Just then one of diners swayed past their table, the invasive odor of the unwashed and liquor trailing him and slammed the flimsy door of the toilet behind him. The younger man did not react to the sound of the door though his companion’s head jerked around then came back quickly.
“Please don’t do that,” the younger man stated flatly.
The older man nodded, a tinge of red on his cheeks. He blinked and shifted uncomfortably in the wooden chair that was too narrow and small for his bulk. His mostly gray hair with some white streaks clung as curly wisps around the sides of his head, over his ears, and up until it reached the crown. On top of his head, the older man had combed the wispy strands of hair from the left side of his head and across in a futile attempt to hide his bald crown. His substantial waistline hindered his ability to lean in toward his companion. Franklin Dunn, Associate Director of Operations for the CIA, was not concerned with his substantial girth at this moment. His jaws twitched and his eyes squinted with nervousness and concentration as he listened to the killer in front of him. Meeting face-to-face with Taneen whose real identity he did not want to know made him ill at ease. Dunn could not fathom why the Director placed any faith in this man. However, the Director was an old spymaster with honed instincts and played everything close to the vest. Dunn was essentially a politician and did not have the extensive field experience the Director had.
“. . . and that’s why we must dispose of Halyard, and soon,” the man hissed sitting up straighter.
Dunn tried to keep his feelings from showing on his face. Keep a poker face, for once in your accursed life, won’t you, he stammered inwardly. This devil is sitting so near to me he felt sick. And what of his story, Poltergeist was no longer loyal to the CIA. Could he have gone over the edge? Was he unbalanced, or worse, did one of their enemies recruit him? No, that was unlikely, Halyard would never willingly go over to another side. He was sure of that, but he had only indirect control over Halyard and didn’t have a current analysis of his psychological health. If he was uncorked, the reality he saw would not be our reality. How could that be, considering his many accomplishments on behalf of his country? Damn, Dunn thought, feeling an almost irresistible urge to ram his beefy fist into the now grinning face of the monster sitting across from him. The Director insisted that Halyard was the best of the best and if there was any doubt about his loyalty then he was a major threat. Dunn found the man frighteningly like the apparition. He had only witnessed Poltergeist in action once, and that was enough for him, he remembered with an involuntary shudder. Halyard was a ghost who moved and completed his missions without a hint that he existed. The deadliest threat imaginable was James Halyard out of control.”
Professional Reviews
Mench
William Joel is among the very finest espionage novelists of the contemporary era, bringing forward a stunner, with a deeply researched and deeply felt character study. Codename Poltergeist ushers us into the intricate, erratic situations of the CIA and one of their own going head-to-head; both sides viewing the other with heightened suspicion and every interaction seemed to be a ploy. Not to give anything away but the United States, Palestine, and Israel are each entangled in a conspiracy that could ignite serious conflict. In short, nobody can be trusted, everyone is suspected of double-crossing and subterfuge. From prologue to ending Joel brings a keen observational eye to every character who moves through the pages of this vivid, compelling novel. I highly recommend.
dazee
A tertific story that takes the reader on a scary ride to ghe depths of the espionage world.
Keeps one on the edge of their seat.
I highly recommend this book . I dont believe in telling any of the story in detail, dont want to give anything away. Its a story that is definitely a must read.
Best Mystery Novels.net
Fans of spy novels and political thrillers might like this entertaining novel that blends in a dash of the paranormal. Codename Poltergeist by William Joel features many familiar thriller tropes - conspiracies on Capitol Hill, CIA, local lawmen at loggerheads, and a hero who finds his world is no longer quite home. This last is quite literal - our hard-boiled hero James Halyard (whose codename is Poltergeist) is from a race of angelic-type beings (possible aliens) who monitor the Earth. After an assassination attempt on his life results in the brutally sudden death of his beloved wife, Halyard is given a new position among his kind. Halyard transforms from a valued secret agent known for being almost invisible, into a supernaturally endowed investigator who can literally vanish. Naturally, this isn't without cost.
Much of the plot involves the unspooling of the many threads and people working against Poltergeist. He does, however, gain more advantages over his earthly enemies: In striking a bargain with a mysterious being, he gains enhanced abilities like preternaturally sharp hearing and sight, though what he loses in the process becomes clear later in the plot.
Briskly paced, Codename Poltergeist is ambitious in its premise. The writing is delightful and most convincing when the author's knowledge of law enforcement and the military weaves into the story. We're hopeful that Codename Poltergeist is the first book in a gripping series.
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