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Khalid Muhammad
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Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office Kindle Edition

by Khalid Muhammad (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 185 ratings
Celebrated as a ragtag force that defeated and broke the Soviet Union, no one predicted the Mujahideen would bring with them a plague that would spread like wildfire through Pakistan in the years to follow. When the battle-worn fighters returned with no enemy or war to fight, they turned their sights on the country that had been their creator and benefactor.

From the same battlegrounds that birthed the Mujahideen, a young Kamal Khan emerges as a different breed of warrior. Discarding his wealthy family comforts, Kamal becomes a precision sniper, an invincible commando and a clandestine operative bringing intimidation, dominance and death with him to the battlefield. Ending the plague is his prime directive.

Shrouded in political expediency, hampered by internal power struggles, international espionage and doublespeak that makes Washington's spin doctors proud, Kamal's mission is a nightmare of rampant militant fundamentalism that threatens to choke and take Pakistan hostage. For him, the fight is not just for freedom, but the survival of a nation.
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  1. Book 1 of 1
    Agency Rules
  2. Print length
    312 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    January 13, 2014
  6. File size
    1.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

By day, Khalid Muhammad is a mild-mannered business executive keeping busy running a marketing and brand management company. By night, his alter ego emerges; one that has a penchant for sadistic retribution towards those who wrong others, and that spends its time devising intricate and detailed plans for a nefarious end.

Born in Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley, educated and raised in the United States, Khalid returned to Pakistan almost 17 years ago and fell in love with his country. His debut novel, Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office, is a journey behind the headlines about Pakistan, the world's most dangerous place, to deliver an intense story that will challenge the reader to question everything they have been told about the country.

He began writing to let the wickedness escape, as the other option means a great deal of blood, numerous torture implements and... well, infinite ways to dump a body. It's safer for everyone involved and less dangerous for the guilty... until he writes another book.

Find out more about him at agencyrules.com, @AgencyRulesPK (twitter.com/AgencyRulesPK) or the Agency Rules Facebook page (facebook.com/AgencyRulesPK).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HUZOED2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dead Drop Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 13, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9699972027
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 1 ‏ : ‎ Agency Rules
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 185 ratings

About the author

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Khalid Muhammad

Khalid Muhammad

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By day, Khalid Muhammad is a mild-mannered business executive keeping busy running a marketing and brand management company. By night, his alter ego emerges; one that has a penchant for sadistic retribution towards those who wrong others, and that spends its time devising intricate and detailed plans for a nefarious end.

Born in Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley, educated and raised in the United States, Khalid returned to Pakistan almost 17 years ago and fell in love with his country. His debut novel, Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office, is a journey behind the headlines about Pakistan, the world's most dangerous place, to deliver an intense story that will challenge the reader to question everything they have been told about the country.

He began writing to let the wickedness escape, as the other option means a great deal of blood, numerous torture implements and… well, infinite ways to dump a body. It’s safer for everyone involved and less dangerous for the guilty… until he writes another book.

Find out more about him at http://agencyrules.com, @AgencyRulesPK (http://twitter.com/AgencyRulesPK) or the Agency Rules Facebook page (http://facebook.com/AgencyRulesPK).

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
185 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an action-packed thriller with compelling characters and a fast-paced narrative. Moreover, the writing is well-crafted, with one customer noting how the author takes time to set the stage. Additionally, they appreciate the book's thought-provoking content and its portrayal of Pakistan, with one review highlighting its insight into the country's political intricacies.

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PlotReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter developmentPacingPakistan historyPowerThought provoking
24 customers mention "Plot"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as an incredible spy thriller with an ideal environment for an action-packed story.

"...And since this is a work of fiction, I think it’s fine to just go along with it and dive into the story...." Read more

"...It was very well written, and kept me interested right up to the very last line on the last page of the book, which left me wanting for the next..." Read more

"Quite enjoyed the plot buy very disappointing ending-" Read more

"...This spy thriller interested me, as the topic of terrorism and the news of poverty and corruption, especially in Pakistan, are with us all everyday...." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one mentioning it's hard to stop reading once started.

"...written (aside from the occasional editorial miss) and is an entertaining read...now, we await the sequel." Read more

"...Khalid Muhammad has written an action packed thriller that was an enjoyable read. Fast paced, it kept me enthralled...." Read more

"...A compelling read." Read more

"...paints wonderful imagery and colourful characters that hold the reader enthralled to the end. 'Agency Rules' is a pacey thriller. A must read." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it very well written and easy to follow, with one customer noting how the author takes time to set the stage.

"...The military action and spy/thriller parts of the book are smart and thought out, and again it’s helpful to take this all in through Kamal’s eyes...." Read more

"...Overall, it is very well written (aside from the occasional editorial miss) and is an entertaining read...now, we await the sequel." Read more

"...It was very well written, and kept me interested right up to the very last line on the last page of the book, which left me wanting for the next..." Read more

"...Told so vividly, it's as though you're on the streets [or the roof tops] with the main character, working undercover, as an operative in the center..." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them compelling, with one review highlighting the dark and driven protagonist and another noting the interesting political characters.

"...I found the political characters just as interesting as Kamal, and the layers and layers of complication involved in the government were gripping...." Read more

"...; themes where all the bad guys are easy to see and the heroes can do no wrong...." Read more

"...All this, while weaving a white-knuckle plot, delineating a dark and driven protagonist, and etching lines of conflict and moral ambiguity in high..." Read more

"...Khalid paints wonderful imagery and colourful characters that hold the reader enthralled to the end. 'Agency Rules' is a pacey thriller. A must read." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, describing it as fast-paced and action-packed.

"...The story is fast paced and extremely tense in some parts, which adds to the fun...." Read more

"...Fast paced, it kept me enthralled...." Read more

"...Agency Rules-Never an Easy Day at the Office was a very well told, fast paced, action thriller...." Read more

"...country, which makes the entire story feel gritty, authentic and timely. Highly recommended, five stars." Read more

5 customers mention "Pakistan history"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's coverage of Pakistan's history and politics, with one customer describing it as an eye-opener about modern-day Pakistan, while another notes it provides an inside view into the intricacies of Pakistani politics.

"The thing I liked best about this novel is the portrayal of Pakistan, its politics, and its landscape by someone who is truly familiar with all of..." Read more

"...The book is a real eye-opener about modern day Pakistan,but also provides some interesting history about the country and the region...." Read more

"...has crafted a superb novel that gives an inside view into the intricacies of Pakistani politics and its place in the world. Set against the..." Read more

"...book apart is the author’s first hand knowledge of Pakistan, a fascinating country, which makes the entire story feel gritty, authentic and timely...." Read more

5 customers mention "Power"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book powerful and well-executed, with one customer noting how it works perfectly to lead the way.

"...Kamal is just as dangerous and deadly as he is smart and capable, which is a nice balance for this kind of story...." Read more

"...Hard to put down once you begin reading. Author does a good job of keeping the reader pulled into the story and the creation of his characters." Read more

"Khalid Muhammad is a warrior. Great work!" Read more

"A compelling, powerful, novel..." Read more

5 customers mention "Thought provoking"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and smart, with one customer noting how it kept them interested throughout.

"...The military action and spy/thriller parts of the book are smart and thought out, and again it’s helpful to take this all in through Kamal’s eyes...." Read more

"...The plot is compelling, keeping me interested throughout." Read more

"...job of creating a character (Kamal Khan) of amazing abilities and instincts. This is a great read by a first time author. Will look forward to more." Read more

"Thoughtful and provocative." Read more

A interesting spy thriller
5 out of 5 stars
A interesting spy thriller
I love a good spy novel. The setting of Agency Rules in Pakistan and Afghanistan designed for a fascinating read, putting me in scenes and settings I got unfamiliar with. I learned a lot about different cultures certainly. I enjoyed following the key character through all his different persona, it created a genuine air of mystery and aided in moving the plot along quickly. The hero, Kamal Khan, uncovers a terrorist operation with a sizable training service and an enormous cache of hands. His aim to neutralize them is complicated by the firms and communities incapability to co-operate with each other. The politicians, Army, police, and spy agency each have plans at odds with others, which creates a minefield fraught with difficulty and danger for Kamal to navigate to achieve his goal.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Sunshine Somerville
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent native approach
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 Stars.

    The very best thing about this book is that it doesn’t feel like an American perspective dominates the story. As a reader, you feel at all times that you’re getting an insider’s angle, which is refreshing compared to many modern spy/espionage books where an American has to ride in and save the day. Even the terrorists here are portrayed as complex characters with thoughtful motivations. Kamal, as a main character, works perfectly to lead the way into the complexities of Pakistan. I found the political characters just as interesting as Kamal, and the layers and layers of complication involved in the government were gripping. The flavor of the culture comes through at every point in this book, and it always feels like it’s written by someone who genuinely knows this world. Some people might find the bits of native-tongue dialogue annoying or frustrating when not translated, but I really appreciated the touch.

    I can’t comment on the “accuracy” of any of the Pakistani political or military elements because that is all quite literally foreign to me, but this book certainly intensified my curiosity about a part of the world I know little about. And since this is a work of fiction, I think it’s fine to just go along with it and dive into the story. The military action and spy/thriller parts of the book are smart and thought out, and again it’s helpful to take this all in through Kamal’s eyes. The slower, more tension-building parts of the book are equally well-crafted. Kamal is just as dangerous and deadly as he is smart and capable, which is a nice balance for this kind of story.

    Sometimes jumping to new characters was a bit confusing because they were so minor you forgot about them for a while, but the ending pulls everything back together so you see what the author was doing, even if it’s a tiny bit lurching. But, since this IS a book about spies, I liked that I had to really focus and try to sort out some things for myself rather than have every little answer handed to me. And there are some typos scattered throughout, but nothing anywhere near distracting enough to make me stop reading.

    Overall, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes spy novels and/or who wants to get a feel for a part of the world most of us aren’t exposed to.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Ryan McCleary
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, entertaining story...and different from your typical spy novel
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The thing I liked best about this novel is the portrayal of Pakistan, its politics, and its landscape by someone who is truly familiar with all of them. It is obvious that the author knows what he is talking about from both a political and historical point of view. This is as opposed to the normal American "us vs. them" themes where all the bad guys are easy to see and the heroes can do no wrong. The story is fast paced and extremely tense in some parts, which adds to the fun. Occasionally the story seems to skip some details or time points that would make it more cohesive, although perhaps that is my personal inability to connect the dots. Overall, it is very well written (aside from the occasional editorial miss) and is an entertaining read...now, we await the sequel.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Randy Jack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, Masterfully Written, Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I've read everything by the original masters of the written exploits of the modern day clandestine operative, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, Brad Thor, Anrdew Britton, Stehpen Coonts, and others I can't remember off the top of my head, but they all share the same basic premise... American operative fighting the Global War on Terror, in some way or another.

    I'm Not saying that's a bad thing, but Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office by Khalid Muhammad gives a whole new twist on the genre, by making the protagonist a Pakistani, and having the storyline based in the Pakistan / Afghanistan region gives the book an interesting perspective I would have never been exposed to, had I not read this book. It was very well written, and kept me interested right up to the very last line on the last page of the book, which left me wanting for the next book in the series to be released.

    Having known Kahlid as a child during his time in the United States, I'm very pleased to say that he has again given me a unique look at things from his perspective, from introducing me to Southern Asian cooking as a child, to reading about a Pakistani operative fighting not the Global War on Terror, but terrorists and their acts right in his own home country. Thanks to Khalid's family when we were kids, while I was reading this book, every time there was a description of food, I could still remember the smells of curry and other spices you could smell when his Mom was cooking.

    Hopefully this book is the first in an ongoing series of books, I was definitely impressed by what I've seen so far, and I've already recommended it to all of my friends.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ikebana
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Quite enjoyed the plot buy very disappointing ending-
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Top reviews from other countries

  • ARSLAN
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Spectrum of ISI
    Reviewed in Australia on December 17, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I rate this book five because I am well aware of current situation in Pakistan but didn't know that is has been happening from ages repeatedly.
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  • Mary Yaroscavitch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office" by Khalid Muhammad is an ...
    Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office" by Khalid Muhammad is an intriguing, intense thriller. It’s a spy novel that is not quite like anything else that I have read. The story-line moved me and pulled me in.This book is not for the light hearted, It is thought provoking, it will make you take a look at your own perspective in a different and unquie way. When I read; I like to be able to picture it in my minds eye you could say and well Khalid Muhammad has certianly done that. The words flew off the page. It is a fast paced read, you will not be able to put the book done.Khalid's Website has an array of items you can "submerge" yourself into as well. You will be able to take a listen to a PodCast that Khalid Muhammad has done on MythBehaving. He goes into detail about his life , about his country and why he decided to write his book, how long it took, goes
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  • Simon
    5.0 out of 5 stars These Rules cannot be broken
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office by Khalid Muhammad is one of the best spy thrillers this reader has ever read. Some readers might say this novel is close to Ludlum, Van Lustbader, MacLean, but the author has crafted his own unique style and by setting it in Pakistan, a country cloaked in mystery and bad press, he has excelled beyond this reader's expectations.
    The complex story follows the devious exploits of Kamal Khan, a soldier trained in black ops tactics, ruthless, deadly efficient and on a mission. But that mission is hampered by bickering government agencies who all have their own agendas. He reveals a terrorist base of operations holding a training facility with a mass of weapons. His immediate objective is to take them out by any means at his disposal. But he must also deal with the interfering agencies as well.
    Every scene is laced with great dialogue, exceptional characterisations and brilliantly fleshed out spy tactics.
    But where the author truly excels is depicting his home country through the eyes of the hero, explaining Pakistan's history and politics in such a way as to leave all the negativity behind.
    A FIVE STAR spy thriller and very highly recommended.
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  • Amy Elizabeth Orr
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good, well-written thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A good, well-written thriller with a lot of convincing background detail. Methodical and clever, for me this was a slow burner... it took a while to get into it but I kept going because the story was convincingly told and was without a lot of exaggerated twists and turns - something that can so often stymie this genre and ruin any sense of plausibility. I was pleased the author withstood any urge to do this and instead kept it simple and therefore, at times, gripping. The characters and the layers of the story built up over the course of the novel to create a very believable whole. The only real negative I had was that I did not connect well with any of the characters, perhaps due to the lack of well-rounded female figures. I appreciate the patriarchal nature of Pakistani politics and espionage, but the very few women in this book were only fleetingly dealt with and seemed to mostly be for the purpose of throwing main characters into relief, rather than as characters themselves. I know this can be a problem with so many novels in this genre, but in otherwise very thoughtful story this lack stood out. So overall, well-written and well-paced, enjoyable, but has a boys only feel.
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  • The Fury Zone
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut thriller from a promising new author...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    There are already plenty of reviews detailing the plot & characters of this book, so I’ll just skip past all that and cut to the chase. ‘Agency Rules – Never an easy day at the office’ is an excellent thriller, told from an original perspective. The quality of the writing and editing are exemplary throughout, the story, although complex, is easy to follow, and the characters are three dimensional and believable. Although I don’t pretend to know much about the politics of Pakistan (beyond what I see in the world’s news media) the story seems highly believable, credible and feels authentic through and through.

    Although there are a few violent and gruesome moments peppered throughout the book, they never feel gratuitous or unnecessary, and the action scenes are well described and efficient. It would seem that this is Khalid’s first novel (judging by his Amazon biography) so if his writing is this good now, I can only say that he has a bright future ahead of him. Looking forward to reading more novels in this series. Well done.

    Note: Although, I downloaded this book during a free promotion, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.
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