Fiasco


Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
372 Pages
Reviewed on 07/07/2025
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

When Jack O’Hare, a case officer in the Australian Security Services assigned to the Middle East “B” Section, is asked to vet Serwan Askari, a Lebanese cab driver in Sydney, he immediately senses something big is about to blow up. Except, he has no idea how big. Before O’Hare can figure out Askari, who is also an alleged drug dealer suspected of funding a terror group back home, two more names pop up on his radar. First is Barrak, an ex-Lebanese militia member hiding in Sydney. Then there is Oculus, a clandestine American operative, who has landed in Sydney and seems to be onto something. Hellbent on sorting out the developing mess of intelligence on his turf, O’Hare is pulled into a dangerous web of espionage involving the CIA, the Defense Clandestine Service, the Hazor Unit 910, a notorious Lebanese militia, and top European intelligence agencies. With his life and those of his loved ones on the line, will O’Hare be among the few left standing when the dust settles? Find out in FX Holden’s Fiasco.

This white-knuckle page-turner will grab you by the scruff of your neck, propel you forward, and won’t loosen its grip until the final word. Weaving an ingenious plot, Holden introduced me to an exciting dynamic cast, treating me to edge-of-the-seat suspense, spellbinding cliffhangers, and jaw-dropping plot twists. The cinematic depictions brought the scenes to life on the pages. The third-person perspective, accompanied by witty, introspective commentary and well-placed references to pop culture, made me feel like I was watching a Hollywood spy thriller. Holden has a knack for making the scenes tremendously dramatic, highlighting the humor in the story. I got swept up in a whirlwind of stakeouts, break-ins, surveillance, abductions, blackmail, and more. I relished the sharp, lively conversations, filled with banter, sarcasm, and wit. These gave depth to the characters’ conflicts, intricate emotions, and complex traits. FX Holden’s Fiasco is a must-read for fans of spy novels blended with high-stakes drama, slow-burning tension, adventure, humor, and thrills.

Grant Leishman

Fiasco by FX Holden is a fast-paced, gritty thriller set in Australia, based on the counter-terrorism arm of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization. Jack O’Hare is a field agent for the Security Service in Sydney. Jack receives information that an operative of Unit 910 of the Lebanese terrorist organization, Hazor Brigade, was operating in Australia and possibly setting up a terrorist incident. Jack and his team at the Security Services know they have to move quickly and decisively to shut them down. The unexpected appearance in Sydney of a known American security operative, known only as Occulus, plus rumors of a missing Delta Force soldier, throws even more confusion and chaos into the fray. Jack and his partner Sigga attempt to unravel the trail before anything untoward occurs that would result in innocent civilian deaths and acute embarrassment to the Australian Government. 

Fiasco stands out in the thriller/espionage market partly because of its unusual setting of Australia, both in Sydney and the opal mining kingdom of Coober Pedy, but also because of the wonderfully crafted and complex character of Jack O’Hare. Author FX Holden has created a character that perfectly portrays the stereotypical laid-back and laconic Aussie that readers will quickly identify with. I loved that the author also imbued him with a softer, emotional side, which we witness in his relationship with his foster mother and his girlfriend. The plot twists and turns as the characters unfold, both good and evil. I particularly enjoyed the time spent in Coober Pedy and the unusual characters in that unique mining town. The action is non-stop, with both heroes and villains involved in their share of violence and pain. The author has spent his working life in the Security Services and shares valuable insights. The Author’s Note to the book just adds a sense of believability to this incredible story. If this is the start of a series focusing on Jack O’Hare, it is an excellent beginning, and I would read more about this character. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Carmen Tenorio

Set in near-future Sydney and South Australia in 2027, Fiasco by FX Holden follows Jack O’Hare, a seasoned officer with the Australian Security Service. Jack’s latest assignment seems simple: investigating Serwan Askari, a Lebanese taxi driver sending large sums of money overseas. The deeper he digs, the more tangled it becomes. Askari may be linked to Merdem Barrak, a refugee with a shady past in a notorious terrorist unit. Jack’s search for the truth is anything but straightforward. He faces roadblocks from government bureaucracy, muddled intelligence, and even interference from American operatives—especially from one codenamed Occulus With help from his no-nonsense partner Sigga, tech whiz Shirl, and an aging informant named George, Jack tries to untangle a web of international intrigue, surveillance, and double-crosses. His personal sphere is no less messy; haunted by family issues, cryptic tarot readings, and a budding romance that’s hard to nurture amid constant danger. As he gets closer to uncovering a dangerous terror network, Jack stumbles into corruption and betrayal within his own ranks. Will the high-stakes pressure, deceptions, and conflicts surrounding Jack eat him alive?

Fiasco is a tense, character-driven thriller that blends espionage, politics, and personal conflict in a tightly woven narrative. It excels in its layered espionage plots and brisk pacing, unfolding through realistic, low-key spycraft. FX Holden skillfully portrays the daily grind of intelligence work, highlighting questionable loyalties and moral ambiguities while maintaining tension. The novel avoids hackneyed tropes, instead building suspense through edgy scenes and allowing readers to absorb its political and social contexts. The story masterfully balances action with bureaucratic realism, featuring well-developed characters. Jack, a sharp, flawed, and driven underdog, navigates his duty amidst personal struggles. His unorthodox methods and abrasive manner conceal his competence. Vividly portrayed supporting roles and their eccentricities and contradictions create a believable, authentically lived-in intelligence world. Fiasco explores themes of questioning trust and patriotism, surveillance ethics, cultural integration, guarded relationships, fragile alliances, and the ambiguous morality inherent in intelligence work. Characters grapple with clashing personal identities and values while facing threats, vulnerabilities, tricky personal expectations, and office politics. This gritty, realistic spy drama, seasoned with dark humor and cynicism, is highly recommended to fans who appreciate human operatives uncovering national security threats through messy espionage.