David McCloskey

David McCloskey “has proved himself a rare combination of experience and talent” (Mick Herron). His latest novel, THE PERSIAN, is “[a] taut political thriller” that Publishers Weekly praises as “intricately plotted,” and a novel “fans of John le Carré will have a tough time putting down”. The Real Book Spy raves that it is “blistering, daring, and impossible to set aside,” and Kirkus declares that it is “reminiscent of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer” and “could not be more timely or unsettling”. THE PERSIAN is one of Apple Books’ Most Anticipated Reads of the Fall and Goodreads names it one of Fall’s Biggest Mystery Novels. It was published by Norton on September 30, 2025.

David’s previous novel, THE SEVENTH FLOOR, about the hunt for a dangerous mole in the highest ranks of the CIA, is “absolutely everything you could want in a spy novel” (I. S. Berry). Shelf Awareness declares it “sensational,” and BookPage raves that it is “remarkably difficult to put down.”  THE SEVENTH FLOOR was chosen as the Mystery & Thriller Pick of the Month at Barnes & Noble, is one of the Top Ten Notable Mysteries & Thrillers of the Fall chosen by Publishers Weekly, a Best of 2024 by Barnes & Noble, one of Apple Books’ Most Anticipated Books of the Fall, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick, and a Sunday Times Bestseller.

David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and a former consultant at McKinsey & Company. While at the CIA, he worked in field stations across the Middle East and briefed senior White House officials and Arab royalty. David holds an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, where he specialized in energy policy and the Middle East. He lives in Texas with his wife and three children.

David can be found on TikTok at @mccloskeybooks