Let’s get cooking, lets?
Cookbook / Whiskey Class
Yep, you learn that proper. Main our listing of summer season reads is one which has taken over the #1 spot in Amazon’s whiskey and alcoholic spirits classes, A Spy Walked Into A Bar: A Practitioner’s Information to Cocktail Tradecraft by former senior CIA Officers Rob Dannenberg and Joseph P. Mullin Jr. Consider it as a real-life information to spies and their favourite cocktails. Based mostly on experiences from their clandestine operations backgrounds, Rob and Joe have collected, curated and perfected the cocktails that have been loved whereas celebrating milestone occasions throughout their CIA careers. From the drinks they ordered after efficiently recruiting property, to marking the tip of a significant operation, this guide options actual life tales and homegrown pictures by the authors themselves.
Novels
Acceptable for summer season, is a brand new spy novel from Tess Gerritsen, The Summer season Company: A Thriller. That is Tess’ second spy guide, after her very profitable TV sequence just a few years in the past known as Rizzoli and Isles. Gerritsen talked with Cipher Temporary CEO & Writer Suzanne Kelly about her journey from the favored TV sequence to spy writer within the Cowl Tales podcast – that was simply after her first guide, The Spy Coastwas launched. Veteran CIA officers Jay and Anne Gruner reviewed her newest guide about 4 retired CIA officers residing in Maine. The Gruners inform us it’s a “gripping account of a posh set of murders, a doable current kidnapping, and a secretary who was lacking for 50 years.” speaking about her earlier spy-themed guide.
Former U.S. counterterrorism officer and cybersecurity govt Neal Pollard broke the code on Ken Dekleva’s novel, The Russian Diplomat’s Spouse. In his overview, Neal says whereas the guide ostensibly is a spy novel set in Vienna, it’s actually a love story between two spies. Creator (and frequent Cipher Temporary contributor) Dekleva attracts on his expertise as a psychiatrist working for the State Division in most of the locales central to the guide and his understanding of human motivation appears to deliver his tales to life. We all know as a result of we additionally interviewed the writer for the Cowl Tales Podcast.
Talking of Dekleva, we tapped his experience to overview a number of books by different authors this yr. One worthy of particular point out is The Poet’s Recreation: A Spy in Moscow by Paul Vidich. Dekleva calls the novel is a terrific examine a former CIA station chief in Moscow, now working as an investor in a personal fairness market in Moscow. The chief was known as again to obligation although to exfiltrate a former agent who claims to have explosive kompromat relating to America’s president. Navigating between two perilous worlds, these of Moscow and Washington, the storyline appears to supply proof that the chilly battle by no means actually ended.
Are you Subscribed to The Cipher Temporary’s Digital Channel on YouTube? There isn’t a higher place to get clear views from deeply skilled nationwide safety consultants.
Going again even additional in time, Dekleva additionally reviewed Task in Saigon: A Chilly Warfare Thriller by former senior CIA officer Invoice Rapp. In his overview, Dekleva says that to actually perceive the intelligence battle in Vietnam, fiction could provide extra to the reader and Rapp’s novel is a most worthy learn.
Spy mastery is the theme of retired senior CIA officer Jim Lawler’s newest novel, The Traitors Story: A Novel of Treachery inside the CIA. We turned to a different seasoned Company officer, and Cipher Temporary knowledgeable, Joe Augustyn, to overview it. Augustyn instructed us: “Jim Lawler has written an intriguing and fascinating novel that ought to fulfill the urge for food of any spy novel fanatic. His character descriptions are spectacular, his data of the Company, its forms and its interior workings is deep, and his operational savvy is on show all through. Spectacular too is his understanding of the dynamics of non-public relationships, each skilled and private, which he calls the “metaphysics” of spying.” You possibly can be taught extra about Lawler and his guide from this Cowl Tales Podcast interview.
Non- Fiction
Whereas now we have reported on a ton of nice fiction over the previous six months, actual life tales, historical past and evaluation have performed a fair bigger position in our protection. Among the many books we’d like to ask (or re-invite) to your consideration listed here are: Secret Servants of the Crown: The Forgotten Girls of British Intelligence by Claire Hubbard-Corridor and reviewed for us by Cipher Temporary knowledgeable Tim Willasey-Wilsey, a real-life former member of the British International Workplace. Willasey-Wilsey known as it a “marvelous guide and a worthwhile addition to what’s recognized in regards to the early days of the British secret companies.” We have been fortunate to have the writer be part of us on a Cipher Temporary Cowl Tales podcast as properly, describing the untold tales of girls who silently served – together with Katleen Pettigrew who was the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s “Miss Moneypenny” within the James Bond novels.
For an American tackle unsung girls in intelligence, there may be Propaganda Ladies: The Secret Warfare of the Girls of the OSS by Lisa Rogak. The previous director of the CIA’s Workplace of Public Affairs, Tammy Kupperman Thorp reviewed the guide that focuses on 4 girls who performed vital roles within the Workplace of Strategic Service (OSS) affect campaigns throughout World Warfare II. She writes that ladies members of the OSS have been in command of “black propaganda” primarily a “sequence of plausible lies designed to trigger the enemy troopers to lose coronary heart and in the end give up.”
Everybody wants a superb nightcap. Ours occurs to come back within the type of a M-F publication that retains you up to the mark on nationwide safety. Enroll at present.
There may be additionally a superb learn on the market in regards to the spouses and households of intelligence operatives who function properly. For a captivating take a look at that life, try Story of a CIA Spouse: Married to the Craft by Rosie Mowatt-Larssen. Veteran journalist and contributing Cipher Temporary editor Elaine Shannon reviewed that one for us and lauds the writer’s “razor wit” and tales of life in quite a few abroad posts together with time in Moscow the place she helped slip KGB tails, serviced lifeless drops and lived a life that at occasions was the stuff of spy thrillers. For extra on Rosie – try her interview with us for the Cowl Tales podcast.
We even have a number of books about motion in World Warfare II that we’d advocate. Let’s begin with Nothing However Braveness: The 82nd Airborne’s Daring D-Day Mission and Their Heroic Cost Throughout the La Fière Bridge by James Donovan. We went to a topic knowledgeable to overview that one – retired Military Main Normal Jack Leide. The guide tells of one of the operationally necessary however lesser-known tales of World Warfare II. Leide praised the writer for offering “extremely insightful and complex descriptions and actions of, not solely the allied and German army forces arrayed in opposition to one another, however how the operation affected most of the native French residents and resistance forces as properly.”
For a far much less heroic view of a few of the occasions in that battle, there may be The Traitor of Arnhem: The Untold Story of WWII’s Biggest Betrayal and the Second that Modified Historical past Without end by Robert Verkaik. Just lately declassified British MI-5 paperwork assist animate this story of a strategic failure that delayed Allied victory within the battle and got here at a steep human value. CIA veteran (and Cipher Temporary knowledgeable) Martin Peterson reviewed the guide for us and writes that the writer makes a powerful circumstantial case that Anthony Blunt, one in every of Russia’s British brokers, performed an important position in passing intelligence to the Germans that broken the Allies probabilities of success.
For a narrative about operational and intelligence success, there’s Taking Halfway: Naval Warfare, Secret Codes and the Battle that Turned the Tide of World Warfare II by Martin Dugard. Had the Battle of Halfway turned out in a different way, Hawaii and the west coast of the USA stood susceptible to Japanese assault. The battle was gained by the U.S. although by means of a mixture of steely management by Admiral Chester Nimitz, and sensible cryptological work led by a unusual Lieutenant Commander named Joe Rochefort. Usually, our go-to supply for guide reviewers are gray-haired material consultants. For this one, we tried one thing completely different and gave the mission to Jack Montgomery, a U.S. Navy ensign at present serving on a Japan-based ship. Montgomery, whose grasp’s diploma thesis was on the Solomon Islands Marketing campaign, notes that the writer’s writing fashion with quick punchy sentences makes the guide a fast, pleasurable and informative learn. Dugard joined us for a Cowl Tales podcast just lately wherein he defined how he developed his story-telling fashion and researched the guide.
One other guide positive to fascinate many Cipher Temporary readers is The Decided Spy: The Turbulent Life and Instances of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner by veteran journalist Doug Waller. Wisner’s story appears like fiction. Standout monitor star in school, lawyer, modern chief within the OSS throughout World Warfare II, one of many founders of the CIA, writer of profitable and unsuccessful covert actions, outstanding participant within the Georgetown social set – however sufferer of what would now be known as bipolar dysfunction – an sickness that finally led to his taking of his personal life. Former senior CIA officer (and Cipher Temporary knowledgeable) Mike Sulick reviewed the guide for us noting that the bio was lengthy overdue and “a useful contribution to understanding the rewards and pitfalls of covert motion as a instrument of American overseas coverage.” Waller joined us in a Cowl Tales podcast to share a few of the secrets and techniques of writing about this trailblazing determine of U.S. intelligence.
A trailblazer of a unique type was Main Normal Jack Leide whose guide, Skilled Braveness: My Journey in Navy Intelligence Via Peace, Disaster and Warfare, was featured in a January overview. Leide has been inducted into 4 completely different army halls of fame. The tales he tells – and the teachings discovered in Vietnam, in China throughout Tiananmen Sq., and as Central Command Director of Intelligence throughout Desert Defend and Desert Storm make it a worthwhile learn. He additionally kindly joined us for a Cipher Temporary Cowl Tales podcast the place he instructed us in regards to the challenges of telling a demanding boss what they should know slightly than what they wish to hear.
The Cipher Temporary Risk Convention is occurring October 19-22 in Sea Island, GA. The world’s main minds on nationwide safety from each the private and non-private sectors might be there. Will you? Apply for a seat on the desk at present.
For a very completely different sort of guide, there may be Zero Sum: The Arc of Worldwide Enterprise in Russia by Charles Hecker. It’s a take a look at the wild world of world commerce launched from Russia following the autumn of the Soviet Union. Cipher Temporary knowledgeable Nick Fishwick, a veteran of practically thirty years with the British International Workplace, reviewed it for us – calling it a “grizzly odyssey” and one “filled with crisp soundbites.” Hecker addresses the query of why the west was so unsuitable in its evaluation of the submit hammer and sickle Russia.
Our tech savvy followers may notably be enthusiastic about Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the World Battle for Democracy, by Ronald Deibert. Jean-Thomas Nicole, a coverage advisor with Public Security Canada and a frequent reviewer for us, says the guide “presents an enlightening and terrifying glimpse into the ever-present and murky world of mercenary adware and digital transnational repression.”
To wrap up our summer season books publication, what could be extra applicable than a guide about books? We’re referring to The Admiral’s Bookshelf, by retired Navy Admiral (and Cipher Temporary knowledgeable) James Stavridis. This spring, the admiral printed his fifteenth guide, and this one is about 25 books (a mix of fiction and non-fiction) that he credit with having helped information his profession and life. Former CIA officer (and writer himself) Jim Lawler reviewed it for us and praised the best way Stavridis candidly discusses not solely his successes – but additionally his stumbles throughout his lengthy profession and the way the books on his bookshelf can assist all of us keep away from some heartache and frustration. Suzanne hosted the Admiral on a Cowl Tales podcast the place he defined how leaders can be taught not solely from Solar Tzu’s The Artwork of Warfare but additionally Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.
We’ve solely touched on a few of the books reviewed in 2025 in The Cipher Temporary. You could find all of our evaluations right here.
One of many issues that makes Cipher Temporary evaluations of books so worthwhile is that our reviewers are consultants in their very own proper. Should you suppose you could have the chops to be a Cipher Temporary guide reviewer, try our tips – and for those who nonetheless suppose you’d be a superb match – drop us a word at undercover@thecipherbrief.com to toss your hat within the ring. Tell us your explicit pursuits and areas of experience. Each time doable, we attempt to marry up knowledgeable reviewers with forthcoming books. We attempt to get the reviewers advance copies – and intention to publish evaluations proper across the time a guide is goes on sale.
We’re wishing you content summer season studying!
The Cipher Temporary brings expert-level context to nationwide and world safety tales. It’s by no means been extra necessary to grasp what’s taking place on the earth. Improve your entry to unique content material by changing into a subscriber.
Learn extra expert-driven nationwide safety insights, perspective and evaluation in The Cipher Temporary as a result of Nationwide Safety is Everybody’s Enterprise.
