Spybrary Spy Podcast

Are you ready for our second installment of DEAD DROP 5? Today’s guest is no stranger to East Germany. He is deep under cover, embedded in Communist East Berlin, he has asked his SIS handler to leave him 5 of his favorite spy books in their dead drop location in the Friedrichshain park. Ian Sanders of the Manchester Military History Society has been reading spy books for many years and has written almost 400 reviews on military,cold war and espionage books on goodreads.  Today he is going to whittle those 400 books down to just a handful ….this is DEAD DROP FIVE on the Spybrary Spy Podcast.   Ian's Dead Drop 5 picks are:

Spybrary Brush Pass: Agent Jeff Quest shares his thoughts on Antony Johnston's The Exphoria Code Tune in to episode 27 of the Spybrary Podcast at hear what Spybrarian Jeff Quest had to to say about The Exphoria Code and why you might want to give it a go. What is The Exphoria Code all about then? Official blurb... “Very possibly the definitive espionage thriller of the early 21st century” – Alan Moore Brigitte Sharp, a cyber-espionage specialist with MI6, has been deskbound and in therapy for three years, after her first field mission in Syria went disastrously wrong. But now one of her best friends has been murdered, and Bridge believes his death is connected to strange posts appearing on the internet, carrying encrypted hidden messages. When Bridge decodes the messages, she discovers evidence of a mole inside a top-secret Anglo-French military drone project. Her MI6 bosses force her back into the field, sending her undercover in France to find and expose the mole… who may also be her friend’s killer. But the truth behind the Exphoria code is worse than she could have imagined. Soon she’s on the run, desperate and alone – as a nuclear terrorist plot unfolds and threatens everything Bridge has left to live for. Sounds intriguing, so who is Antony Johnston? Taken from his official website: Antony Johnston is a New York Times bestselling graphic novelist, author, and games writer with more than fifty published titles. The Charlize Theron movie ATOMIC BLONDE is based on his graphic novel THE COLDEST CITY. His epic series WASTELAND is one of only a handful of such longform achievements in comics. His first video game, DEAD SPACE, redefined a genre. Antony’s other books and graphic novels include THE EXPHORIA CODE, THE FUSE, DAREDEVIL, JULIUS, the ALEX RIDER graphic novels, DEAD SPACE transmedia comics, and the adaptation of Alan Moore's 'lost screenplay' FASHION BEAST. His video games include SHADOW OF MORDOR, BLACKWOOD CROSSING, THE ASSEMBLY, DEAD SPACE EXTRACTION, ZOMBIU, and more. Antony also hosts the podcast UNJUSTLY MALIGNED, and records music under the alias SILENCAEON.   What is a Brush Pass review exactly? These are first impression reviews sent in by Spybrary listeners and give us their first impressions of a spy book, spy movie or spy tv show soon after finishing it. We encourage all our Spybrary listeners to record their own brush reviews and send them in. Remember we are not academics here, Spybrary Spy Podcast is by spy fans for spy fans. (And we don't always have to agree - vive la difference and all that.) If you want to send in a brush pass review, record it on your smartphone and email to shane@spybrary.com We will do the rest. If your brush pass episode is aired then you will receive a $20 Amazon voucher as a thank you from us all at Spybrary! Check out our other Brush Pass reviews here Enjoyed this episode of Spybrary? Come and talk Spy books and movies with other spy fans in our private Spybrary listeners facebook group

Spybrary Brush Pass: The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton   Spybrarian Matthew Kresal shares his brush pass review on The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton by Jefferson Morley which has recently been published. According to Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes -The History of the CIA 'The Ghost' is.. "The best book ever written about the strangest CIA chief who ever lived." - Listen to today's episode of Spybrary and hear what reader  and Spybrary contributor Matthew thinks of it and does he recommend spy fans give it a go? More information on James Jesus Angelton in the resources section below. About the author: JEFFERSON MORLEY is a journalist and editor who has worked in Washington journalism for over thirty years, fifteen of which were spent as an editor and reporter at The Washington Post. The author of Our Man in Mexico, a biography of the CIA’s Mexico City station chief Winston Scott, Morley has written about intelligence, military, and political subjects for Salon, The Atlantic, and The Intercept, among others. He is the editor of JFK Facts, a blog. He lives in Washington, DC.   What is a Brush Pass review exactly? These are first impression reviews sent in by Spybrary listeners and give us their first impressions of a spy book, spy movie or spy tv show soon after finishing it. We encourage all our Spybrary listeners to record their own brush reviews and send them in. Remember we are not academics here, Spybrary Spy Podcast is by spy fans for spy fans. If you want to send in a brush pass review, record it on your smartphone and email to shane@spybrary.com We will do the rest. If your brush pass episode is aired then you will receive a $20 Amazon voucher as a thank you from us all at Spybrary! Check out our other Brush Pass reviews here Enjoyed this episode of Spybrary? Come and talk Spy books and movies with other spy fans in our private Spybrary listeners facebook group

On Episode 25 of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, host Shane Whaley talks to author Christopher McIntosh about his cold war spy thriller 'The Lebensborn Spy' What is the Lebensborn Spy all about then? 'The Lebensborn Spy is a novel based on a real situation during the Cold War, in which former inmates of the Nazi Lebensborn maternity and children's homes were used as spies by the East German intelligence service. The story involves one such spy, who goes to Denmark to carry out espionage for the German Democratic Republic and to find his mother, who he believes to be a Danish woman who had a love affair with a German soldier during the wartime occupation and then gave her infant son away to the Lebensborn. There is a parallel thread to the story, involving another young man living in East Berlin. The two men and the Danish family become caught up in a web of deception, betrayal and love. The story, which is also about the search for one's origins and one's native homeland, moves to a dramatic climax, which reaches a startling dénouement in the re-united Berlin of 1990.'   In this engaging interview for Spybrary, Christopher McIntosh shares with us: Why his book is dedicated to all former Lebensborn children’ For those of our listeners who are not familiar with Lebensborn Christopher tell us more. (Check the resources section below for more links on this.) How Der Spiegel inspired him to write the book Why lovers of spy thrillers will enjoy his book. What kind of research he completed for this book. His own insight into the main characters of the Lebensborn Spy. How a former GDR stasi prisoner (who was bought by the West) helped him with research on the GDR. What was the hardest part of writing his book. What was his favorite chapter (or part) to write and why His advice for aspiring authors? And Much More!

Brian Gray of the Sunday Spy Show talks to us about his London Spy Tours and much much more! Ever wondered what its like to go on a London Spy Tour? Today we learn more about the Intelligence Trail's London Spy Tours. Spy Tours are becoming very popular with spy aficionados, both with those who enjoy the fictional spy books of James Bond or Tom Clancy right through to impressive non fiction spy writing from the likes of Nigel West and Ben MacIntyre. Many of us want to check out the locations (either real or fictional) of brush passes, dead drops, assassination by poison umbrellas or tea laced with polonium, interrogations, arrests, chases. KGB signal sites etc Spy museums are also becoming popular, the two that immediately spring to mind are the German Spy Museum in Berlin and our friends at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. (Both come highly Spybrary recommended.) Next year NYC joins the spy tour fray with Spyscape but more on that in another episode. In this edition of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, we get to spend an hour with Brian Gray of the Sunday Spy Show. Not only is Brian an expert on espionage and the security services, he also offers London Spy Tours including the epic (my word not his) Intelligence Trail billed as 'The In-depth London Spy Tour.'   'The ‘Trail offers the most comprehensive content-rich introduction to the shadow world of Britain’s main intelligence services – MI5, MI6, and GCHQ – on the streets of London, in key locations associated with the spy world throughout the decades. Whether you’re London-based or coming from afar, if you’re wanting to discover the real triumphs and tragedies, and the trials and tribulations surrounding MI5 and MI6 through the years on the streets of central London – you’ve come to the right place.' In this episode of Spybrary: We ask Brian how he amassed so much knowledge on spying and espionage   Brian shares with us the spy books that got him interested in espionage, spying and the security services.   How does Brian respond when he ask him if he has worked for the intelligence services?   Brian gives us the lowdown on all his London Spy Tours including The Classic Tour, The Early Years Tour, The Cold War Tour and the Sexpionage Tour.   He reveals why his 'Mayfair and Mother Russia' tour is his most hard-core London Spy Tour yet!   Brian Gray tells us what inspired to him to start up the Intelligence Trail spy tour.   He shares with us which celebrities have enjoyed his London Spy Tour and what famous people have 'tour-bombed' the Trail.   He tells us how he helped with the PR campaign for the remake of the Man from U.N.C.L.E   Listen to the podcast and hear what part of the Intelligence Trail surprises people the most   And Much Much More...so much more that we had to split the interview into two parts! Brian will be back to share with us his thoughts on the challenges facing MI5 and MI6. Shane cheekily asks him what he would do if he locked Brian in a room with Kim Philby or George Blake. Stay tuned for that one.! Recently, Spybrary assembled a crack team of spy fans to check out Brian's London Spy Tour. This elite team included Jeff Quest (Spywrite,) Gary Dexter, Ian Sanders (Manchester Military History Society), Rob Mallows (The Deighton Dossier), Tom  (Literary 007) and Spybrary host Shane Whaley.   They all gave the Intelligence Trail 5 stars and agree that Brian's London Spy Tours are all killer and no filler. Check out the Tripadvisor reviews if you are intrigued and interested in going on the tour. Follow the Intelligence Trail on: Twitter Facebook Official Site Check out Jeff Quests write up on recent London Spy Tours  If you enjoy chatting spy books and spy movies, or have a question or point of interest on London Spy Tours come and join our private Spybrary Facebook Group.

Today we launch a new series for Spybrary, it is called DEAD DROP 5. Today’s guest is deep under cover, behind the wall embedded in Communist East Berlin, he has asked his SIS handler to leave him 5 of his favorite spy books in their dead drop location in the Friedrichshain park. David Craggs has been reading spy books for over 50 years, he is a frequent contributor to the excellent Literary007.com and today he is going to share with us which books he wants deposited in his DEAD DROP 5 and why! We deep dive into David's choices and get his take on the spy book landscape.

We talk all about the British Cult Classic TV show 'The Prisoner' starting Patrick McGoohan on today's  Spybrary Spy Podcast You are a number, but it is not Number 6, you are number 22 as this is the number of this weeks Spybrary Podcast episode. Today we are going to do something a little different. As regular listeners know the reason I cannot put out a weekly show is that I insist on reading the book of a guest before we chat.  I think it makes for a much better conversation, after all this is podcasting not cable news..ouch! So I have an admission. I have never watched the iconic tv show ‘The Prisoner.’ I know, a bit embarrassing for someone like me who loves the spy niche and especially 60s/70s spy shows. I think I saw the odd clip of it as a kid and put it in the Dr Who category of weird and disturbing. (The Prisoner comes up a lot in our listener discussion group on facebook. If you are interested in extra bonus content to the podcast then check out our group on spybrary.com/facebook) So I asked in our group who wants to come on the show and tell us more about The Prisoner. I have a stack of DVDs to catch up on this winter so my viewing time is at a premium. Matthew Kresal who featured on Episode 12 of our spy podcast has volunteered to get into the hot seat here at Spybrary and tell us more about the Prisoner.

Into the Shadows – The Fever with Michael Brady Lt Col Michael Brady was an intelligence officer for over 20 years. Find out more about his first spy novel ‘Into the Shadows‘ on the Spybrary Podcast with Host Shane Whaley. This is the story of Michael Brennan, a career CIA non-official cover (NOC) intelligence officer and his quest to identify and disrupt a plot crafted by the Islamic State terror group. After Michael travels to Israel and meets with Israeli intelligence, he partners with Elif Turan, a Mossad agent working in Turkey as a false flag along the Syrian border. Together, they must use their skills and tradecraft to stop Islamic State’s scheme of introducing the deadly Ebola virus into New York City. Now let me tell you a bit about Michael. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Brady, USA, (RET), earned his MS in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in Washington, DC in 2003. His classified thesis focused on the current and emerging issues confronting China and Taiwan. He has performed a wide variety of tactical and strategic intelligence functions including long-range surveillance, interrogation andintelligence analysis, He served as the Director, Presidential Emergency Operations Center in the White House from January 2001 until July 2002 under President George W. Bush. LTC Brady is a 1990 graduate of The Citadel, Marine Corps Command and General Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, US Army Airborne School and US Army Ranger School. His areas of expertise and research include threats to the homeland, intelligence collection systems and programs, intelligence analysis, and intelligence support to national policy making. The point I am making here is that today’s guest knows his stuff when it comes to spying and now he is following the likes of Graham Greene, John Le Carre, Ted Allbeury and others who journeyed from the secret world to writing espionage fiction. We talk about how Michael Brady’s background in intelligence contributed to ‘Into the Shadows’ in particular looking at the technology used by the Intelligence services today. It is a far cry from Harry Palmer and George Smiley! Brady also talks about the characters in his novel, the exotic locations and he shares with us what advice he would give to anyone wanting to join the intelligence services. And much much more! What did you think of today’s chat with Michael Brady? Love it? Hate it? Do you have a burning question about it? We are carrying on the conversation about Into the Shadows and many other spy books over at our private Spybrary discussion group, feel free to join us here