'He Gave Me Information About Spying That Frightened The Life Out of Me!' (and inspired The New Spy)
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Guest host Matthew Hurst sits down with author to explore his debut spy thriller . Dylan shares his unconventional journey from global advertising creative to full-time novelist, revealing how real-world research, including chilling conversations with a mysterious source known only as “Mr. Pickles” shaped the authenticity of his espionage writing. The conversation dives deep into modern intelligence warfare, particularly the concept of “chaos warfare,” where the goal is not conquest but destabilisation. Dylan explains how this evolving geopolitical reality inspired the novel’s...
info_outline
Remembering Len Deighton: The Outsider Who Revolutionised Spy Fiction
Spybrary Spy Podcast
We share the sad news that renowned spy novelist Len Deighton has passed away at 97. We pay tribute to his incredible work, discussing why he was considered the greatest spy novelist and his impact on cold war espionage. His contributions to the spy thriller genre remembered. Len Deighton didn’t just write spy novels… he changed the genre. In this episode, we take a step back and reflect on the life, legacy, and impact of one of the true giants of espionage fiction. From The IPCRESS File through to the Bernard Samson/Berlin Game series, Deighton gave us something very...
info_outline
He Wrote Spy Game. Now He’s Written an Epic CIA Saga | Michael Frost Beckner
Spybrary Spy Podcast
What happens when a legendary screenwriter turns decades of espionage ideas into an epic literary spy saga? On this episode of the Spybrary podcast, joins to unpack , the Spy Game universe, CIA family legacies, his influences, moral ambiguity, and the hidden machinery of intelligence. A must-listen/watch for serious spy fiction fans. Join the Spybrary Community: If you enjoyed today's episode - please can you give us a rating and review? This helps us spread the word to bring more spy readers in from the cold.
info_outline
Former Spy Turned Novelist: James Wolff on Spies and Other Gods with Tim Shipman
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Tim Shipman sits down with thriller author who worked as a British intelligence officer for over ten years. They unpack his latest spy novel Spies and Other Gods. Wolff shares how a single line in a UK parliamentary oversight report (the Intelligence and Security Committee) sparked the novel’s core idea. An anonymous whistleblower sends British Intelligence into a frenzy, threatening to reveal secrets that could bring the establishment to its knees. Wolff also reveals why it took government censors 16 months to approve his book—and shares some of the truly absurd references they...
info_outline
Fleming’s Final Bond Stories: Octopussy, Living Daylights & The Spy Boom Of 1966
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Spybrary’s James Bond Book Club jumps back to 1966 to discuss Ian Fleming’s final book of 007 short stories—Octopussy and The Living Daylights. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion: spy fiction is exploding, and Fleming’s legacy may be less about continuation novels and more about how he opened the floodgates for Len Deighton, John le Carré, Modesty Blaise, Quiller, and the entire “spy mania” era—on page and screen.
info_outline
Everybody Wants to Rule the World: 1980s Nostalgia & Cold War Espionage with Ace Atkins
Spybrary Spy Podcast
In this thriller author interview, Spywrite's sits down with Ace Atkins to dive deep into his nostalgic Cold War spy novel — a thrilling, 80s-set espionage adventure that blends suburban coming-of-age storytelling with high-stakes KGB intrigue. Support Spybrary on Patreon - Atkins shares how discovering Ian Fleming as a teenager transformed him into a lifelong spy fiction obsessive, eventually shaping his career as a bestselling author. The conversation explores the real-life espionage inspirations behind the novel, including infamous traitors Aldrich Ames, as well as the bizarre and...
info_outline
Inside The Cormorant Hunt with Michael Idov (Spoiler Free)
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Bryan Boling sits down for a spoiler-free chat with novelist , diving into , the standalone sequel to his acclaimed spy thriller . Idov discusses the challenge of writing a compelling antagonist in Felix Burnham—a fusion of Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate who pushes protagonist Ari Falk to his limits. They explore how real-world extremism, post-COVID paranoia, and disinformation influence modern spy fiction, and why setting stories in overlooked global locales adds authenticity. From the Reichsbürger to action-packed drone chases in Georgia (the country), Idov breaks down how topical...
info_outline
Spies, Snipers, Smugglers & the Shadow War in Northern Ireland
Spybrary Spy Podcast
In this gripping episode of the Spybrary Podcast, sits down with journalist and author to explore the legacy of his landmark book . They dive into the hidden war fought in the rural heartlands of Northern Ireland during the Troubles, spotlighting the extraordinary reach of IRA intelligence and the massive British surveillance effort in response. Toby shares the story behind the book’s unexpected reissue 25 years after its release, the shadowy figure of Tom “Slab” Murphy, and the dangerous tightrope journalists walked reporting from IRA strongholds. The conversation then pivots to...
info_outline
Is this David McCloskey's Boldest Spy Novel Yet?
Spybrary Spy Podcast
On this riveting episode of the Spybrary Spy podcast, British political journalist Tim Shipman is once again in conversation with a former CIA analyst turned novelist, discussing his fourth and most ambitious book yet, . Departing from his CIA-rooted earlier work, McCloskey dives into the morally murky waters of the Israeli-Iranian shadow war. The novel, a high-stakes standalone thriller, follows a Mossad operation and an Iranian-born dentist-turned-reluctant-spy. They discuss the challenges of writing beyond American intelligence, the process of accessing former Mossad officers for...
info_outline
Polish Cold War Spy Thriller with Former CIA Analyst Karl Wegener
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Guest host Jim Wilton sits down with former U.S. military intelligence professional and author to discuss his Cold War–era historical spy thriller . Wegener shares his personal background in U.S. Army intelligence and the CIA, how he transitioned into writing, and why he chose lesser‑known Cold War stories—especially those involving Polish resistance movements—for his novel. The conversation highlights the book’s unique setting in post‑World War II Poland, the inclusion of strong female lead characters inspired by real women in intelligence history, and Wegener’s ongoing...
info_outlineLearn more about the John le Carré Tradecraft exhibition in Oxford revealing John le Carré’s meticulous research, unseen manuscripts, and the personal life behind the spy fiction. In Spybrary Ep. 275, we speak with the curators about what they uncovered and what it tells us about the master of espionage fiction.
In this episode of Spybrary , Shane Whaley hosts a conversation into Tradecraft, the new exhibition at Oxford’s Bodleian Library focusing on John le Carré (David Cornwell). His guests are Professor Federico Varese and Dr Jessica Douthwaite, who co‑curated the exhibition. They explore how the exhibit reveals le Carré’s working methods, personal life, and research habits. From manuscript drafts and scribbles on hotel stationery to his mother’s abandoned suitcase, the conversation explores how le Carré meticulously researched his books, how he conceives characters like George Smiley, and what the curators hope visitors take away.
They also discuss key artifact highlights, the challenge of selecting what to display from over 1,200 archive boxes, and deeper questions: why did he write in fiction rather than non‑fiction, and what question would the curators ask le Carré if they could meet him? Spybrary host Shane Whaley also asked the curators which John le Carré novels they recommend for those new to his work as well as how they selected the nine le Carré books on which the John le Carré exhibition is based.
Key Topics / Themes
- The intersection of fiction, fact and research in le Carré’s method
- Le Carré’s meticulous research process (notes, drafts, corrections)
- The role of Jane Cornwell (his wife) as collaborator and editor
- The curatorial challenge of selecting from the vast John le Carré archives
- Personal artifacts as gateways into the life behind the author
- How le Carré anticipated geopolitical trends (pharma, corruption, security)
- The emotional impact the Tradecraft exhibition had on the author's family.
- The question of why he chose fiction rather than non-fiction as his medium
- And why did he David Cornwell choose the pen name John le Carré.
Shane also thanked the curators for making the Tradecraft exhibition accessible to both le Carré scholars and to those who may never have read any John le Carré novels.
Join the Spybrary Community Today