The Persian (Extract)

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

History

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2026

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

To coincide with the release of David's latest novel, The Persian, we have the book’s first chapter in audiobook form for you to enjoy. Mixing suspense with strikingly cinematic action, David McCloskey takes readers deep into the shadow war between Iran and Israel. The Persian by David McCloskey, is OUT NOW in the UK. Pre-order a signed edition ⁠via this link.⁠ ------------------- What happens when a spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception? Kamran Esfahani, a Persian Jewish dentist from Stockholm, dreams of starting afresh in California. To finance his new life, he agrees to spy for Mossad in Iran, working with a clandestine unit tasked with sowing chaos and sabotage inside the country. When he’s captured by Iranian security forces, Kamran is compelled to confess his experiences as a spy, in a testimonial dealing not only with the security of nations, but also with revenge, deceit, and the power of love and forgiveness in a world of lies. ------------------- Email: classified@goalhanger.com Twitter: ⁠@triclassified⁠ Social Producer: Emma Jackson Producer: Becki Hills Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	For exclusive interviews, bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series,
0:09.0	first look at live show tickets, a weekly newsletter, and discounted books.
0:13.1	Join the declassified club at the rest is classified.com.
0:17.9	Audible Studios presents the Persian, written by David McCloskey, performed by Fajar al-Casey.
0:30.0	Prologue Tehran, Iran, four years ago.
0:36.6	It did not escape the Israeli watching through the hijacked phone camera
0:41.1	that this very scene had unrolled that morning at his own breakfast table in Tel Aviv.
0:47.7	His daughter was about the same age.
0:50.5	Even the nail polish had been pink.
0:54.8	Roya Chabonnie blew across her daughter's freshly painted fingernails.
1:00.0	Alia, ever a mimic, took a deep breath and huffed as hard as she could across the bright pink polish.
1:07.1	"'Who's coming to my party?' Alia asked, watching her mother screw the cap onto the polish.
1:13.3	"'Everyone you wanted. The list we made, sweetie.'
1:16.6	She began to stand, but Alia held her wrist tight.
1:21.9	"'How many?' Six,' Roya said.
1:25.9	"'Will there be cake?' "'You and I made the cake,' Roya said. "'Will there be cake?'
1:27.6	"'You and I made the cake,' Roya said.
1:31.0	"'We are bringing that.'
1:33.2	"'Can I bring my lammy?'
1:35.3	"'Of course,' Roya said.
1:38.4	"'Your lamb can come.'
1:40.3	Roya stood and glanced at the clock.
	...

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