Spies, Snipers, Smugglers & the Shadow War in Northern Ireland
Release Date: 02/03/2026
Graham Greene: The Novelist Who Never Stopped Spying
Spybrary Spy Podcast
The novelist Graham Greene ranks at number 6 on Tim Shipman's infamous Best Spy Writers list — and yet we haven't given him enough airtime on the podcast. Time to put that right. Graham Greene didn't just write about spies — spying was the family business. His uncle founded Naval Intelligence. His sister recruited him into SIS. And Greene himself walked out of the Service the day before D-Day. Why? The answer may involve his boss and drinking companion: Kim Philby. Guest host Matt Hurst debriefs Professor Kevin Ruane — Greene scholar and Director of the Graham Greene International...
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Charles Cumming Talks ICARUS 17, BOX 88 and Writing Modern Espionage
Spybrary Spy Podcast
In this episode of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, Shane Whaley is joined by fellow Spybrarian and Head of Boston Station, Joe Modzelewski, to welcome bestselling espionage author back to the show. Support us on for even more content. Charles joins Spybrary to discuss his new Lachlan Kite thriller, , released on 2 July in the UK and 7 July in the United States. Billed as a nail-biting new entry in the series, ICARUS 17 sees Kite pulled back into fieldwork when Martha Rain, a woman from his past, asks for his help in finding her missing son, Max. Max and his girlfriend Yasmine have disappeared...
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Nine Years, 300 Episodes – The Future of Spybrary Spy Podcast
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Nine years after nervously recording episode one, Shane Whaley celebrates a major Spybrary Spy Podcast milestone: episode 300. In this reflective and forward-looking episode, Shane shares how Spybrary began, why the has kept it going, and what comes next for the Spybrary spy podcast. Full shownotes at www.spybrary.com/300
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Bestselling Author Brad Thor on Choke Point, Netflix's Cold Zero, and Spy Fiction
Spybrary Spy Podcast
Brad Thor has sold over 25 million thriller books. Tim Shipman welcomes Brad Thor on Spybrary to discuss , the 25th Scot Harvath thriller, and the evolution of Scott Harvath from post-9/11 counterterrorism operator. Thor explains how the new novel uses Thailand, China’s ambitions, the Strait of Malacca, sabotage, bomb-making, and geopolitical manipulation as the backdrop for a fast-moving thriller. The conversation also digs into Thor’s writing process, his research network of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and diplomatic sources, and how he builds authentic detail even when he...
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Espionage Historian Reveals 5 Must-Read British Spy History Books
Spybrary Spy Podcast
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Cold War Spy Files - Britain’s Secret Fakers: The Cold War’s Hidden Propaganda War with Rory Cormac
Spybrary Spy Podcast
What happens when Britain fights the Cold War with typewriters, fake pamphlets, covert publishers, and even pretend hippies? On this episode of Spybrary's Cold War Spy Files, Shane Whaley talks with historian Rory Cormac about his book .and the extraordinary true story of the Information Research Department — Britain’s secret propaganda and forgery machine. A fascinating dive into Cold War deception, disinformation, and 'state-sanctioned skullduggery.' The conversation opens the file on Britain’s Cold War covert propaganda machine, especially the little-known — a blandly named...
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Jack Carr's Cry Havoc — Did This Le Carré Fan Finish It?
Spybrary Spy Podcast
I'm Shane Whaley — a self-confessed "guile over guns" spy fiction reader who has always preferred le Carré's slow burn spy novels to military firefights. So what happens when a Le Carré fan picks up Jack Carr's Cry Havoc, a 550-page Vietnam War action thriller written by a former Navy SEAL? Welcome to the Spybrary Rodeo — the brand new Spybrary feature where I pick up a book outside my comfort zone, or by a new-to-me author, give it a fair crack, and tell you exactly how many pages I stayed on for. Sometimes I bail early. Sometimes I go all the way to the final page. Today's book is...
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The Dark Truth About the Cambridge Five | Stalin’s Apostles with Antonia Senior
Spybrary Spy Podcast
If you think you already know the Cambridge Five story, think again. In this episode of Spybrary, Shane Whaley is joined by journalist and author Antonia Senior to discuss her powerful new book, — a major re-examination of Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross. But this is not the familiar story of clubland betrayal, old boys’ networks. ping gins and establishment embarrassment. Instead, Antonia asks a darker and more important question: what did Stalin actually want from his greatest spies and what was the human cost? From Poland, the Baltics,...
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She Judges Crime Fiction’s Biggest Prizes — Here Are Her 5 Favourite Spy Books!
Spybrary Spy Podcast
One of crime fiction's most trusted voices reveals her 5 best spy novels. In our latest Spybrary Dead Drop Five series, crime fiction critic makes a passionate case for each one — and her picks may surprise you. Welcome back to the Dead Drop 5 series! In this episode, Spybrary host Shane Whaley is joined by Ayo Onatade — one of the most respected voices in crime and thriller fiction. Ayo is a critic, commentator, and moderator who has written extensively on crime and thriller fiction, contributed to major reference works on British and American crime writing, and...
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'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_outlineIn this gripping episode of the Spybrary Podcast, Adam Brookes sits down with journalist and author Toby Harnden to explore the legacy of his landmark book Bandit Country: The IRA and South Armagh.
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 the CIA, highlighting Harnden’s acclaimed book First Casualty and his upcoming work on the Distinguished Intelligence Cross, the CIA’s highest honor.
Interview with Toby Harden author of Bandit Country
Key Topics & Themes:
Moral complexity of insurgency and counterinsurgency
The reissue and enduring relevance of Bandit Country
IRA intelligence structure and infiltration
British military and surveillance operations in Northern Ireland
The life and mythos of Tom “Slab” Murphy
Journalistic risks during the Troubles
CIA’s post-9/11 mission in Afghanistan
Distinguished Intelligence Cross and CIA recognition
Timestamps & Segments:
00:00 — Intro & Guest Welcome
Adam Brookes introduces Toby Harnden and his career journey from Royal Navy officer to war correspondent.
01:38 — The Revival of Bandit Country
Why and how Toby's 1999 book returned to print 25 years later.
05:03 — Entering South Armagh: IRA Heartland
A firsthand look at the rural guerrilla battlefield and IRA sniper teams.
08:34 — The Intelligence War
How the IRA built an intelligence network using locals and public workers.
12:26 — The British Response
Massive surveillance, SAS deployments, and the high-tech watchtowers.
15:56 — Reporting in Hostile Territory
Toby recounts the dangers of reporting from Crossmaglen and Republican events.
20:15 — The Enigma of Tom “Slab” Murphy
The pig farmer turned IRA chief of staff — smuggler, strategist, and shadow man.
24:24 — International Ties: Libya, PLO & FARC
How the IRA networked globally and Murphy’s role in Libyan arms deals.
28:00 — Motivation & Identity
What really drove South Armagh fighters like Murphy—ideology, identity, or revenge?
30:59 — A History of Resistance
The inherited culture of rebellion in South Armagh, going back a century.
33:16 — How Many Were Fighting?
A few dozen active fighters in South Armagh vs. the full force of the British state.
38:29 — Lessons for Intelligence Agencies
The CIA, MI5 & MI6—what they learned (or didn’t) from the Troubles.
42:12 — Inside the CIA: First Casualty
Toby's work on CIA's response to 9/11 and the birth of his next book project.
44:36 — The 39: CIA’s Silent Heroes
The untold stories behind the Distinguished Intelligence Cross.
48:02 — Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Work
Why the CIA's frontline operatives are some of the most remarkable unsung heroes.
51:22 — Closing Thoughts & What’s Next
Final reflections and teasers for Toby's upcoming book, The 39.
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