Spybrary Spy Podcast

Spybrary is a podcast for fans of spy books, spy tv and spy movies since 2017. We bring you author interviews and reader discussions on our favorite spy books and novels.

Ian Fleming's Thunderball- The James Bond Book Club 04/24/2024

Jonna Mendez - A Woman's Life in the CIA Unmasked 04/09/2024

Jonna Mendez - A Woman's Life in the CIA Unmasked In this episode of the Spybrary Podcast, host interviews the former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez about her latest book . Join us for a riveting episode with Jonna Mendez, a former CIA operative with an enthralling tale of espionage, covert operations, and the very human aspect of intelligence work.** Spybrarys' Adam Brookes dives deep into the clandestine world of espionage with the remarkable Jonna Mendez, who shares her extraordinary experiences from a reputable career in the CIA. Prepare to be captivated as Mendez recounts real-life scenes straight from a spy thriller – from enduring hostile interrogation and utilizing disguise artistry to operational challenges in Moscow and the intricate realm of intelligence gathering. In this episode, you'll discover: The seemingly impossible. How a renowned burglar turned into an invaluable asset within a CIA office. Surviving the darkness. Mendez reveals her harrowing experience during a hostile interrogation training course and the mental fortitude it took to overcome her claustrophobia. The art of disguise. Dive into the secretive world of masks and how the CIA uses Hollywood-inspired techniques to outmaneuver surveillance teams. Embracing technology. As the world grows more complex, Mendez addresses the efficacy of masks against facial recognition and the internet's role in modern espionage. Escape Through Visualization: Mendez describes her mental escape during a CIA training exercise and how this skill became her personal superpower. Infrared Intelligence: Learn how Jonna Mendez managed to develop crucial film in a clandestine hotel room operation. The Babushka Strategy: A daring operation involving disguise and deception on the streets of Moscow. The Legacy of Secrecy: Mendez reflects on the impact of leading a covert life on personal relationships and the struggle to transition back to normalcy post-CIA. The spy behind the smile. Mendez opens up about the human dimension of spying, from the emotional toll of secrecy to the reliance on personal connections. /episode/index/show/spybrary/id/30734863

Spies, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland with Henry Hemming 03/25/2024

Spies, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland with Henry Hemming In this episode of the Spybrary podcast, the hosts discuss the book '' by Henry Hemming. Four Shots In the Night tells the story of the 1986 murder of a British spy inside the IRA and the subsequent investigation that took place 30 years later. It explores the role of Martin McGuinness and British intelligence in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The hosts also discuss the historical context of the conflict and the process of getting Sinn Fein involved in the political process as well as the Kenova report. The book is praised for its extensive research and the new insights it provides into the intelligence operations during that time. What is Four Shots in the Night by Henry Hemming about? is the story of a political murder: the killing of an IRA member turned British informant. The search for justice for this one man's death—his body found in broad daylight, with tape over his eyes, an undisguised hit—would deliver more than the truth. It exposed his status as an informant and led to protests, campaigns, far-reaching changes to British law, a historic ruling from a senior judicial body, a ground-breaking police investigation, and bitter condemnation from a US Congressional commission. And there have been persistent rumors that one of the country’s most senior politicians, the Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness, might have been personally involved in this particular murder. Relying on archival research, interviews, and the findings of a new complete police investigation, Four Shots in the Night tells a riveting story not just of this murder but of his role in the decades-long conflict that defined him--the Troubles. And the questions it tackles are even larger: how did the Troubles really come to an end? Was it a feat of diplomatic negotiation, as we've been told--or did spies play the decisive role? And how far can, or should, a spy go, for the good of his country? Four Shots in the Night is a page-turner that will make you think. /episode/index/show/spybrary/id/30536393

The Spy Game Books with Writer Michael Frost Beckner 03/21/2024

Tom Fletcher 'The Ultimate Downing Street Operator' and Spy Author in Conversation with Spybrary 03/18/2024

Ian Fleming's For Your Eyes Only- The James Bond Book Club 03/14/2024

Unpacking Beirut Station with Author Paul Vidich 03/07/2024

Unpacking Beirut Station with Author Paul Vidich Join Spybrary Spy Book Podcast host Shane Whaley, author Paul Vidich and Spybrarian David Craggs as we unpack Paul Vidich's latest spy thriller 'Beirut Station: Two Lives of a Spy.' Beirut Station is a novel pulsating with emotional depth and geopolitical intrigue. Set amidst the 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli conflict in Beirut, Lebanon, the story follows the precarious journey of a Lebanese-American protagonist entangled with the UN, CIA, and Mossad in a mission to eliminate a terrorist threat. Special guest Paul Vidich returns for a third appearance on Spybrary , offering listeners a rare glimpse into his creative process and the inspiration drawn from historical events and legendary spies like Kim Philby. This episode brims with lively discussions on Vidich's adept portrayal of Annalise a robust female spy lead character who navigates the moral complexities of her clandestine world. We discuss the seamless blending of fact and fiction and Paul Vidich's layered approach to character development. Beirut Station reminding us once again that heroes and villains in spy novels, much like in real life, occupy grey areas of morality. Join us for this enthralling conversation and then connect with your fellow espionage aficionados in our online community to share your thoughts on Paul Vidich's Beirut Station. So what is Beirut Station By Paul Vidich all about, Shane? A stunning new espionage novel by a master of the genre, Beirut Station follows a young female CIA officer whose mission to assassinate a high-level, Hezbollah terrorist reveals a dark truth that puts her life at risk. Lebanon, 2006. The Israel-Hezbollah war is tearing Beirut apart: bombs are raining down, residents are scrambling to evacuate, and the country is on the brink of chaos. In the midst of this turmoil, the CIA and Mossad are targeting a reclusive Hezbollah terrorist, Najib Qassem. Najib is believed to be planning the assassination of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is coming to Beirut in ten days to broker a cease-fire. The spy agencies are running out of time to eliminate the threat. They turn to a young Lebanese-American CIA agent. Analise comes up with the perfect plan: she has befriended Qassem's grandson as his English tutor, and will use this friendship to locate the terrorist and take him out. As the plan is put into action, though, Analise begins to suspect that Mossad has a motive of its own: exploiting the war’s chaos to eliminate a generation of Lebanese political leaders. She alerts the agency but their response is for her to drop it. Analise is now the target and there is no one she can trust: not the CIA, not Mossad, and not the Lebanese government. And the one person she might have to trust—a reporter for the New York Times—might not be who he says he is… A tightly-wound international thriller, Beirut Station is Paul Vidich's best novel to date. /episode/index/show/spybrary/id/30270733

Ian Fleming The Complete Man with Biographer Nicholas Shakespeare 02/29/2024

James Bond After Fleming: The Continuation 007 Novels with Mark Edlitz 02/22/2024

James Bond After Fleming: The Continuation 007 Novels with Mark Edlitz Special guest Mark Edlitz, author of "James Bond After Fleming," joins James Bond aficionados Bill Kanas, Brian McKaig, and guest host Matt Raubenheimer on the Spybrary Spy Podcast to dissect the evolution of 007 in print. Together, they unravel the challenges, strategies, and approaches of various continuation 007 authors in the ever-thrilling James Bond literary saga. 🎧 Listen now to uncover fascinating insights into the world Ian Fleming created and how it has been skillfully perpetuated through the pens of talented continuation authors! Today, we are talking all about the world of James Bond after Fleming on Episode 229 of the Spybrary Spy Podcast "The Continuation 007 Novels." Join us as we decode the world of Bond novels post-Ian Fleming with an elite panel of James Bond Continuation 007 novels fans: Matt Raubenheimer in the hosts chair, Mark Edlitz author of James Bond After Fleming, Brian McKaig, and Bill Kanas. Today, we'll explore the varying directives given to continuation authors, the challenge of maintaining a consistent Bond universe, and the particular styles of authors like Kinglsey Amis, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, Anthony Horowitz. Dive into the complexity and charm of the Gardner era with Brian McKaig's insights, learn why Bill Kanas cherishes these stories, and follow Matt Raubenheimer's unique path through the Bond series. Mark Edlitz brings his guide to Bond literature, offering starting points for new and veteran readers alike. The mission begins now. Meet Your Spybrary James Bond After Fleming Panelists Guest Host - Matt Raubenheimer Mark Edlitz - author of James Bond After Fleming Bill Kanas Brian McKaig Producer: The video version of James Bond After Fleming is coming soon! In this episode you will also learn: Bill Kanas’s suggested order of John Gardner to Raymond Benson novels and contextual novelization reading Brian McKaig's preference for starting with "Colonel Sun" followed by Gardner’s and then Benson’s works Addressing cherry pickers’ potential entry points into the Bond novel series James Bond 007 Continuation Novel Discussion Questions Spybrary is more than a podcast. Did you know we host a community of almost 4000 spy book fans? Join the and dive into some of these conversations: /episode/index/show/spybrary/id/30064133

The Third Man - Movie Reviewed by Spybrary's Section F (Films) Panel 02/08/2024

Dead Drop 5 with Jeff Circle of The Writers Dossier 01/30/2024

My Five Best Spy Books With Dr Mark Pack, President of the UK's Liberal Democrats 12/19/2023

The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination with Stuart A Reid 12/07/2023

My Five Best Spy Books with Martin Paul 11/29/2023

A Spy Alone - Interview with Charles Beaumont, Former MI6 Officer Turned Author 11/20/2023

Tim Shipman in Conversation with David McCloskey, Author of Moscow X 11/16/2023

Tim Shipman in Conversation with David McCloskey, Author of Moscow X 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 complexities of modern espionage, as well as themes of betrayal, love, loyalty, and vengeance in the shadow war between the West and Moscow. So what is Moscow X all about, Shane? Discover the thrilling world of espionage in Moscow X the gripping second novel by David McCloskey. Set in present-day Russia, this fast-paced spy thriller follows the CIA's Artemis Proctor as she masterminds a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Russian intelligence. With a plot centered around a covert operation to destabilize Putin's regime, Moscow X delves into the complex world of money, power, and betrayal. Prepare for a heart-pounding yet realistic adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat or as in my case, late for work, yes it is that good! Moscow X ‘Thrilling, propulsive and terrifying’ Simon Sebag Montefiore The second novel from the author of Damascus Station (‘One of the best spy thrillers in years’ The Times) A daring CIA operation threatens chaos in the Kremlin. But can Langley trust the Russian at its center? CIA operatives Sia and Max enter Russia to recruit Vladimir Putin’s moneyman. Sia works for a London firm that conceals the wealth of the super-rich. Max’s family business in Mexico – a CIA front since the 1960s – is a farm that breeds high-end racehorses. They pose as a couple, and their targets are Vadim, Putin’s private banker, and his wife Anna, who is both a banker and an intelligence officer herself… Praise for Damascus Station: ‘Simply marvellous storytelling…a stand-out thriller and essential reading for fans of the genre’ – Financial Times ‘The best spy novel I have ever read’ – General David Petraeus, former director of the CIA /episode/index/show/spybrary/id/28670533

Moscow X by David McCloskey - Spy Book Review! 10/28/2023

Liza Mundy - The Secret History of Women at the CIA 10/17/2023

Espionage, WW2, and historical accuracy: A conversation with thriller author Alex Gerlis. 10/03/2023

The Spy Novels You Can't Miss: Oliver Webb Carter's Top 5 Best Picks 09/19/2023

Intel: The Sandbaggers 45th Anniversary Virtual Event 09/10/2023

The John le Carré Movie Club - The Deadly Affair 08/23/2023

Ex-CIA Officer's Spy Thriller Marks a Stunning Literary Debut - The Peacock and The Sparrow 08/10/2023

David Callan Books: The Antihero of Espionage - Brush Pass Review 08/01/2023

Secrets and Alliances: Exploring the UK and US Intelligence Partnership with Michael Smith 07/21/2023

Revealing the 5 Best Spy Books as Recommended by David Clark 07/02/2023

The Bucharest Legacy with author William Maz 06/09/2023

Five of the Best James Bond Books According to Bondologist Matthew Dewhurst-Grice 06/06/2023

5 Must-Read Spy Books According to Author Stephen England 05/29/2023

5 Must-Read Spy Books According to Author Stephen England Author 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 Spybrary, and discover the thrilling world of spy novels in our exclusive series, 'Dead Drop 5'. Spy Books and Dead Drops...what is this series exactly? This riveting series is a crowd favorite, but be warned, your bank balance may take a hit based on these spy book recommendations. In these episodes, our brave podcast uests are dispatched on a clandestine mission behind the Iron Curtain, where danger lurks at every shadowy corner. But fear not, they won't embark on this perilous journey unequipped. Our intrepid agents can request five spy novels to be stashed in the East Berlin dead drop. But that's not all. Beyond these spy books, our guests are granted a selection of diverse items, each carefully curated to make their stay in East Berlin more manageable, perhaps even a touch more comfortable. Join host Shane Whaley as he interviews author Stephen England about his upcoming mission to East Berlin and the five books he would like to take. They discuss the importance of well-written prose in spy novels and Stephen's book choices, including "Private Wars" by Greg Rucka and "The Agent Runner" by Simon Conway. Get ready to dive into 'Dead Drop 5', only on Spybrary, but be warned, this series could seriously damage your bank account! Stephen England's 5 Spy Books You Need to Read for a Thrilling Adventure Are you a fan of spy novels that transport you to different times and places? Do you appreciate well-written prose that captures the madness of the spy business? Look no further than these five spy book recommendations from author Stephen England. First on the list is a novel set in Central Asia with skillfully crafted prose. Next is a masterful portrayal of the dirty bomb plot and the madness of the spy business. Stephen also recommends for its gripping plot and characters. Pick up Night Heron by Adam Brookes for a gritty look at espionage. This novel is praised for its realistic portrayal of China and its compelling characters. Finally, offers a nuanced exploration of the conflict in Afghanistan and the people caught up in it. Whether you're a fan of modern world terror novels or prefer a cold war spy historical setting, these spy novels are sure to provide a thrilling adventure. So grab a copy and prepare to be transported to the murky world of intelligence, espionage and skullduggery! Links and Resources Mentioned on this episode with Andy Onyx on the Spybrary Spy Podcast The - by spy book fans for spy fans. /episode/index/show/spybrary/id/26979432

Ian Fleming's Goldfinger- The James Bond Book Club 05/15/2023

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