I am a 35-year veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces and the CIA with more than 20 years experience in “interesting” places around the world. That experience (and a graduate degree) gave me the background and tools to write about special operations and espionage history. I am also a conflict archaeologist and have conducted battlefield and campaign studies on three continents. I know and love these stories because they have been part of my life, and know readers will also love them.
As a former intelligence officer, I love books that tell me about the places where real spies (and even some fictional ones) operated.
Roy Berkeley has done just that in cracking form with A Spy's London, which is an exhaustive guide to where the spies were in London (and still are).
Although I would challenge his assertion that London is the espionage capital of the world (hint: it’s Berlin), his book tells you the story and then shows you how to get there with walking tours, maps, and photos.
I especially love his description of the “ops” and how he brings them to life, whether they went well or failed spectacularly!
The American Southwest is not the usual place one thinks about in connection to espionage, but some of the most notorious spy incidents in U.S. history happened here during World War II and are still happening!
Former CIA officer E. B. Held brings these events to life (and in some cases death) with just the right amount of historical background to interest any traveler or spy aficionado in exploring these amazing stories.
I love how the author shows the importance of New Mexico to espionage history from Leon Trotsky to the Manhattan Project to today’s events at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This book will give you a new perspective on “The Land of Enchantment."
When thinking of New Mexico, few Americans think spy-vs.-spy intrigue, but in fact, to many international intelligence operatives, the state's name is nearly synonymous with espionage, and Santa Fe is a sacred site. The KGB's single greatest intelligence and counterintelligence coups, and the planning of the organization's most infamous assassination, all took place within one mile of Bishop Lamy's statue in front of Saint Francis Cathedral in central Santa Fe. In this fascinating guide, former CIA agent E. B. Held uses declassified documents from both the CIA and KGB, as well as secondary sources, to trace some of the most…
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
Okay, it’s time for some fun. Matthew Field & Ajay Chowdhury have given us a feast with their book: Darker than the Sun.
More than anything, I can say I love this book because the authors know 007 and the business of spy movies better than anyone! If you love spy fiction like I do, you need this book because it takes you to wherever James Bond, aka 007, has been.
What I really love is that you don’t need to travel to these places, because this book gives you all the information on the story, how the movies were filmed, the people, and, of course, stunning photography.
From the Swiss Alps, to Jamaica, to Istanbul, to Thailand, you can plan your own trip, or – like I did – just settle down in a comfortable chair with a Vesper martini and enjoy!
Explore the world of James Bond like never before with Darker Than the Sun, a visually rich travelogue charting 007's journey through six decades of espionage, glamour and adventure.
Whether you're a lifelong Bond aficionado or a curious traveller drawn to the allure of exotic destinations, this book invites you to follow in the footsteps of the world's most iconic secret agent. From the sun-drenched beaches of Jamaica to the icy peaks of the Swiss Alps, from the neon-lit streets of Bangkok to the grandeur of Venice and Istanbul, Darker Than the Sun charts the evolution of Bond's cinematic geography.…
I love this book because it details the story of America’s first spy ring, the Culper Spy Ring, set up by George Washington in 1778.
Author Bill Bleyer “turns” much of the TV misinformation around and corrects the record while giving us a succinct history and guide to the still-existing Revolutionary War sites on Manhattan and Long Island.
He sets the stage with Washington’s retreat from Long Island and then fills the book with historical notes, maps, and diagrams, including a very good history of the doomed spy Nathan Hale and what Washington did to avenge his execution.
The author provides much detail on the what, where, when, and how of Washington’s spies and how the visitor can find what remains today.
In 1778, two years after the British forced the Continental Army out of New York City, George Washington and his subordinates organized a secret spy network to gather intelligence in Manhattan and Long Island. Known today as the “Culper Spy Ring,” Patriots like Abraham Woodhull and Robert Townsend risked their lives to report on British military operations in the region. Vital reports clandestinely traveled from New York City across the East River to Setauket and were rowed on whaleboats across the Long Island Sound to the Connecticut shore. Using ciphers, codes and invisible ink, the spy ring exposed British plans…
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
I love all aspects of the Spy Game, from the places, to books, to film, to the food, and (of course) the drinks, so where best to go to find that kind of info than in a great book like A Spy Walked Into A Bar…?
I love the premise, the stories, and the how to make a drink. Put it all together, and you have not only a mixology but a captivating history of an “interesting” side of espionage.
Written by two senior CIA officers who know the business and what it takes to survive, which includes a cocktail once in a while. With this book, you can go into a bar and spot the spies or their targets… maybe.
Spy Tradecraft coupled with Spy Barcraft at its best. I’ll have a Talisker 18, double, straight up, in a cold glass, please!
A Spy Walked Into A Bar: A Practitioner's Guide to Cocktail Tradecraft by former senior CIA Officers Rob Dannenberg and Joseph P. Mullin Jr. is a real-life guide to spies and their favorite cocktails. Based on experiences from their clandestine operations backgrounds, Rob and Joe have collected, curated and perfected the cocktails that were enjoyed while celebrating milestone events during their CIA careers. From the drinks that were ordered after successfully recruiting assets, to marking the end of a major operation, this book features real life stories and homegrown photos by the authors themselves. A Spy Walked Into A Bar…
From World War II’s rubble to the razor's edge of the Cold War, Berlin was the epicenter of a war fought in the shadows. Divided, occupied, and contested, the city was home to the world's most elite intelligence operatives. American, Soviet, British, French, East and West German services—and even terrorist factions like the RAF and the PLO turned Berlin into a vast chessboard of espionage, deception, and covert operations.
In Berlin, former Green Beret and intelligence officer James Stejskal delivers a gripping, photo-rich guide to the key players, locations, missions, and betrayals that defined Cold War Berlin. Part travelogue, part historical dossier, this book is your gateway to understanding how the Cold War was really fought—and why Berlin remains the most spy-saturated city on Earth.
