This is the fourth book in Alex Berenson's series about CIA agent John Wells, which started with The Faithful Spy. It's not necessary to have read all the previous books - in fact, this is a significantly better book than installments 2 and 3. If you're new to the series, all that you need to know is that John Wells is a fluent Arabic speaker who spent several years undercover for the CIA infiltrating the Taliban and then became a national hero after averting a terrorist attack in New York. Since then he has worked for the CIA when they need someone to help with "special problems" that require them to operate outside their usual channels.

The Midnight House which gives this book its name is a secret US interrogation centre based in Poland, set up to deal with terrorists. Around a year after the centre was disbanded, someone is killing off the team members one by one. John Wells is called in to find out who is responsible, which is a difficult task because so many details about what went on at the Midnight House are shrouded in secrecy. Parts of the story are set during the operation of the Midnight House, so that the answers gradually emerge from dual storylines.

This is an enjoyable thriller which is grounded in current events and therefore feels more realistic and credible than books of this genre often do. While there are some exciting action sequences, Berenson has also written an intelligent story with rounded characters. I didn't guess how the book would end, but it's a satisfying and logical conclusion.