Spybooks Podcasts

Host Adam Brookes is joined by Stuart Reid, executive editor at Foreign Affairs and author of The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination. They delve into the fascinating and shocking story of Patrice Lumumba, the Congo crisis of 1960, and the CIA's role in Lumumba's assassination. The Lumumba Plot by Stuart Reid St…

In this episode of the Spybrary spy book podcast we talk about our best spy books, host Shane Whaley invites guest Martin Paul to embark on a clandestine mission behind the Iron Curtain. As part of the Dead Drop 5 series, Martin shares his top five best spy books that he would take with him to East Berlin. From classic spy thrillers to lesser-known…

David Clark interviews former MI6 officer and debut author Charles Beaumont, whose novel A Spy Alone has just been published in the UK. (Available on Kindle elsewhere.) A QUICK HEADS UP. A Spybrary first, due to Charles Beaumont's work for the Intelligence Services, our technical division has digitally altered his voice to protect his identity. Spy…

Tim Shipman, the chief political commentator at the Sunday Times, conducts a captivating interview with author David McCloskey on the Spybrary podcast. McCloskey's debut novel, Damascus Station, garnered much excitement among spy thriller readers. Shipman explores how his second book, "Moscow X," measures up. The interview delves into the complexit…

On this episode, Bruce Dravis sends us a quick brush pass review of David McCloskey's Second Novel - Moscow X! Was it a hit or miss for Bruce? Listen in to find out! What do you think of Moscow X? Come and share in our community for spy book enthusiasts - Spybrary. All WelcomeBy Shane Whaley

In this episode of the Spybrary Podcast, host Adam Brookes interviews Liza Mundy, author of "Code Girls" and "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women and the CIA". Mundy discusses the often overlooked contributions of women to the CIA, highlighting the challenges they faced due to gender biases. She shares stories of women who played crucial ro…

Welcome to Spybrary, the podcast for spy book enthusiasts! In today's episode, we are diving into the world of WW2 spy books with author Alex Gerlis. In this episode of Spybrary we talked about the inspiration behind each book in Alex Gerlis most recent Wolf Pack series. From the events of Pearl Harbor to the Allied bombing of the Ruhr, to the butc…

Welcome to Spybrary, a podcast for spy book enthusiasts. In episode 215, I had the pleasure of hosting special guest Oliver Webb Carter, a historian and the founder of Aspects of History, a magazine, podcast, and website dedicated to history and historical fiction. Dead Drop 5 is our espionage version of Desert Island Discs, except in our case, the…

Welcome back to Spybrary, the ultimate podcast for spy books, spy movies, and spy TV series. In today's 'intel' episode, we share more about an upcoming Sandbaggers fan-organized virtual event featuring Roy Marsden (Neil Burnside.) Paul Hodges of the Sandbaggers Facebook community shares 'that The Sandbaggers Facebook Group will be hosting our firs…

Lights, camera, intrigue! Join the Spybrary Spies and Books Podcast panel as we shine a spotlight on "The Deadly Affair." Uncover the hidden gems, character nuances, and unexpected twists in this underrated film adaptation of John le Carre's work based on his debut novel Call for the Dead. Following our full debriefing of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy …

In today's episode, we are diving into the world of espionage books with an interview featuring a remarkable debut novelist, ex-CIA officer I.S. Berry. Her book, "The Peacock and the Sparrow," has been causing quite a stir in the Spybrary community. Without a doubt, The Peacock and the Sparrow is the best spy novel published in 2023 that I have rea…

Spybrary's Man in Station L (Northern Sector) author Andy Onyx slipped us this brush pass review of the David Callan books penned by James Mitchell. Welcome back to Spybrary, the ultimate podcast for spy books. In today's episode, we dive into the thrilling world of Callan, the antihero of espionage. Get ready tohear more about this iconic characte…

On this episode of Spybrary the Spy Podcast, host Shane Whaley sits down with guest Michael Smith, an intelligence historian and author of The Real Special Relationship: The True Story of How the British and US Secret Services Work Together. Michael Smith delves into the origins of the special relationship between the UK and the US, focusing on the…

In this thrilling episode, we have a special guest, David Clark, who worked as a Special Advisor to former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. David has an intellectual and professional interest in intelligence, making him the perfect guest for today's topic: Revealing his 5 Best Spy Books! In this episode of Dead Drop 5 - David takes us on a gri…

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with William Maz, author of the Bill Hefflin Spy Thriller Series, which is set in Bucharest, Romania. In our conversation, we explore the plotlines of Maz's books and the historical backdrop of Romania during and after the communist regime. Join us as we unravel the secrets of this fascinating setting. Read i…

In this episode of the Spybrary Spy Book Podcast, it's Dead Drop 5, and guest James Bond Bondologist Matthew Dewhurst-Grice reveals his five best James Bond novels. These are the James Bond books that he has asked his handler to stash in a dead drop behind the Iron Curtain He shares how he first discovered the James Bond books and discusses his app…

Author Stephen England finds himself embedded deep in Communist-controlled East Berlin, and has asked his handler to leave him 5 of his favorite spy books at the Dead Drop location in Friedrichshain Park. Join us on the Spy Book Podcast, Spybrary, and discover the thrilling world of spy novels in our exclusive series, 'Dead Drop 5'. Spy Books and D…

Are you a fan of the Ian Fleming James Bond novels? If so, you won't want to miss the latest episode of the James Bond Book Club presented by Spybrary. In this episode, host Shane Whaley and guests David Craggs and Andy Onyx dive deep into Ian Fleming's classic novel Goldfinger as if they are in the year of publication. They provide fascinating ana…

Readers looking for a quirky Cold War spy story will find much to enjoy in Like Dolphins, the latest spy thriller from Andy Onyx. In the latest installment of his Barbell spy book series, spy author Andy Onyx takes us on a journey through the world of Cold War spy fiction. With a cast of intriguing characters and a plot that delves deep into the wo…

The Innocent by Ian McEwan is a thrilling novel set in 1950s Berlin during the early stages of the Cold War. The book follows the story of Leonard Marnham, a young British post office technician who is sent to Berlin to work on a top-secret project. Leonard is a naive and inexperienced young man who quickly becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of …

On Episode 204 of the Spybrary Spy Book Podcast, we chat with the author of the best spy book I read last year, Big Bear Little Bear, David Brierley. We are also joined by the publisher, thriller critic, and author Mike Ripley as we dig into David's work and, in particular, how he researches locations for his spy novels. Join the Spybrary Community…

Today’s guest is writer Adam Brookes. Adam spent over a decade working for the BBC, appearing on television and radio while crisscrossing the globe and spending extended amount of time in both China and the US. He’s also written for publications such Foreign Policy and The Economist. His first espionage novel, Night Heron, was released in 2014 and …

It is that time of year once again when book critics and reviewers are asked what are the best spy books of the year. Spybrary is a ‘by spy fans for spy fans' production so it is in that spirit that we asked our own Spybrary Podcast listeners and community members to reveal what were their best spy books of 2022 with a twist. We asked our spy book …

In this Christmas episode of Spy Rewind, Matthew and Jeff take a look at the episode "The Night of Whirring Death" of the 60’s tv show The Wild Wild West. They discuss how WWW is the old west’s James Bond, the great Michael Dunn as one of the best villains - Professor Loveless, and Richard Kiel before Jaws! Plus, spy Christmas traditions! All that …

The James Bond Book Club is back! This is the series where we discuss each Ian Fleming James Bond novel as if we are in the year of publication. Today it's the turn of Quarrel, Strangeways, HoneyChile Rider, and a fiend called Dr No! What is the Spybrary James Bond Book Club exactly and what makes it different from other 007 book clubs? On the Jame…

Our Man in Alabama Matthew Kresal gives us the lowdown on the 2005 video game of From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery in this Spybrary Brush Pass. 'The game was the last James Bond video game released by Electronic Arts before they lost the rights to Activision in 2006, as well as Sean Connery's last role before retirement and death.' James …

Smiley is suspicious Percy! Today we kick off the John le Carre movie club series on the Spybrary Podcast. Once a month, our panel will take a deep dive into a John le Carre movie. To start the series, a full debriefing of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Jeff Quest of the Le Carre Cast, Double O Section's Matthew Bradford and Spybrary commentator Ma…

This week we welcome the former Home Secretary and best-selling author Alan Johnson to the Spybrary Podcast. In this informative and fun chat, Spybrary host Shane Whaley asks Alan Johnson how his background as Home Secretary helped him to write his fiction books Late Train to Gipsy Hill and One of Our Ministers is Missing. The Director General of M…

This week we welcome Benjamin Cunningham to the show. Cunningham wrote the recently released book The Liar: How a Double Agent in the CIA Became the Cold War's Last Honest Man a book that the publisher calls “the Cold War meets Mad Men in the form of Karel Koecher, a double agent whose shifting loyalties and over-the-top hedonism reverberated from …

Intelligence Historian and Author Nigel West joins Spybrary Spy Podcast host Shane Whaley to share more about his latest book Spies Who Changed History plus, he answers your questions on the Wilson Coup, the Steele Dossier on Trump, meeting Anthony Blunt, Ian Fleming and many more!By Shane Whaley

Sunday Times Chief Political Commentator and spy book fan Tim Shipman talks with Ben Macintyre about his latest work based on Colditz, Prisoners of the Castle. The “entertaining yet objective and often-moving account” (The Wall Street Journal) of one of history’s most notorious prisons—and the remarkable cast of POWs who tried relentlessly to escap…

Spybrary's man in Station L (Northern Sector) author Andy Onyx slipped us this brush pass review of Javier Marias's thriller Your Face Tomorrow: Fever And Spear He shares why spy book readers will enjoy this modern spy novel. "Your Face Tomorrow by the Spanish novelist of note, Javier Maras. I say novelist of note because Maras has sold over 6 mill…

What's life like working as a spy? Spy author Bevan G Roberts chats with former Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) and MI6 trained agent handler Warren Reed to find out. Most of us are fascinated by the craft of human intelligence. It's a trade as old as time, involving betrayal, secrecy, and most of all, danger! Danger to the operative …

Spybrary field agent Chris Lueloff slipped us this brush pass review of Bill Granger's spy thriller November Man series Lueloff shares why spy book readers will enjoy Granger's work and boldly declares that Peter Devereaux is an American Quiller. Agree, disagree? Come and let us know your thoughts in the Spybrary fans community. More About the Nove…

Join Spies and Books, Spybrary host Shane Whaley as he finds outs more about the traitor Robert Hanssen in this interview with author Lis Wiehl New York Times bestselling author and former federal prosecutor Lis Wiehl delivers a behind-the-scenes account of how FBI agent Robert Hanssen, a church-going father of five, sold national security secrets …

In this conversation with Spybrary host Shane Whaley, award-winning spy author Dan Fesperman reveals more about the real-life espionage events that inspired his latest novel, set in Berlin 1990, Winter Work. The Berlin Wall has fallen and in the ensuing power vacuum, a former Stasi officer and a CIA agent must fight for their lives. On a chilly ear…

Listen in to our first ever live episode of Spybrary. A panel to discuss Tim Shipman's list of the best 125 spy writers. Tim reveals more about his method and criteria for selecting this monster list of spy authors. Joining us are Professor Penny Fielding, author and critic Jeremy Duns, spy blogger Matthew Bradford, and John le Carre book collector…

Spybrary field agent Erich Wagner slipped us this brush pass review of the nonfiction spy book The Spy Who Changed History by Svetlana Lokhova Erich tells us that the book will especially appeal to those of us with an interest in pre cold war Soviet deep cover espionage. More about the book: On the trail of Soviet infiltrator Stanislav Shumovsky, c…

Shane shares a quick announcement on upcoming episodes and explains why there has been a lull in episodes of late.By Shane Whaley

James Bond fan and Spybrary's Head of Station SA, Matt Raubenheimer gives us his spoiler-free thoughts on the latest James Bond 007 novel With A Mind To A Kill written by Anthony Horowitz. It is M's funeral. One man is missing from the graveside: the traitor who pulled the trigger and who is now in custody, accused of M's murder - James Bond. Behin…

Shane Whaley delivers a brush pass review on Agent in Berlin by Alex Gerlis To live among wolves, first, you must become one... An unmissable new spy thriller from best-selling master of the genre, Alex Gerlis. War is coming to Europe. British spymaster Barnaby Allen begins recruiting a network of agents in Germany. With diplomatic relations quickl…

This week, Spywrite's Jeff Quest welcomes Otto Penzler to the show. Otto shares stories from his many years of collecting books and meeting spy fiction authors. You’ll hear stories about Eric Ambler, Charles McCarry, John le Carré and many more. , Plus, hear about his meeting with Len Deighton, how Ross Thomas nearly lost out on a million dollars, …

The year is 1957 and our guests share their thoughts on the latest James Bond novel From Russia With Love written by Ian Fleming.By Shane Whaley

On April 8th, Amazon releases the movie adaptation of Olen Steinhauer's All the Old Knives. In today's episode, two of our most knowledgable spy movie experts and Spybrary agents Matthew Bradford and Jack Lescamela chat with author and screenwriter Olen Steinhauer and the director of All The Old Knives, Janus Metz. Hello, and welcome to episode 181…

Spybrary joins forces with the Barbican Station podcast to discuss Apple TV's Slow Horses series starring Gary Oldman which airs today. The first half of this episode is spoiler-free. Today is the day many of us have been waiting for, the Apple TV's Slow Horses series starring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb is now airing. Through one of our agents I w…

Today, we bring you a spy author interview. Spybrary hosts Shane Whaley and Peter Newman find out more about Charlotte Philby's latest novel, Edith and Kim. Charlotte also shares memories of her grandfather, Kim Philby, and reveals some interesting responses in the world-famous Spybrary Quickfire Round!…

We get in our time machine and head for 1956 to review the latest Ian Fleming James Bond 007 novel, Diamonds Are Forever. With David Craggs, author Andy Onyx and Spybrary Host Shane Whaley. What is the Spybrary James Bond Book Club exactly and what makes it different from other 007 book clubs? On the James Bond Book Club, we get in our time machine…

And now for something completely different. We just decoded a brush pass from, author Clarke Mayer who shares his thoughts on a spy video game called Metal Gear Solid.By Clarke Mayer

Welcome to Episode 176 of the Spybrary Spy Book podcast. Spywrite's Jeff Quest speaks to author Alma Katsu, formerly with the NSA and CIA. Katsu’s latest book, Red Widow, follows a CIA mole hunt. It’s been optioned for television and is out in paperback on March 1st. They discuss switching from NSA to CIA and back again, the explosive growth of soc…

Spy Author Paul Vidich returns to the Spybrary Spy Podcast to talk about his latest spy novel The Matchmaker, set in Berlin in 1989. In the vein of Graham Greene and John le Carré, The Matchmaker delivers a chilling Cold War spy story set in West Berlin, where an American woman targeted by the Stasi must confront the truth behind her German husband…