Don't miss Georgina Harding's newest novel "The Painter of Silence" available in September, 2012. It is 1961, and the world is in black and white. Eight-year-old Anna watches the Cold War unfold on her television set and builds precarious houses of cards on the sitting-room carpet. Her older brother Peter glues together German bombers and hangs them from his bedroom ceiling, while their mother brightly bosses him to go outside to play. Then, one stingingly cold morning made indistinct by the freezing fog, the world changes. A kiss that barely touches Anna's cheek, a rumble of exhaust and a blurred wave through an icy windscreen, and her mother is gone. Anna and Peter do not attend the funeral. Their father, ever evasive, remains gentle but distant, absorbed always in quietly tending his garden, burying his grief. Life returns to normal: Anna goes to school, practises her scales, doesn't ask questions. But Peter will not let go of a fierce conviction that Karoline is still alive. Fascinated by the daily tales of espionage in the newspapers, he constructs a theory that their mother, German by birth, was a spy working under the cover of perfect post-war domesticity. And as Anna examines her mother's image, a blandly pretty studio portrait of post-war New Look woman, the many possibilities of who she might have been refract and scatter like coloured light through glass.

February 1981. The Cold War is in full swing. Richard Brodick decides to follow in his father's footsteps and seeks an exciting role in what used to be called the Great Game, only to find that it turns out to be less of an adventure and more brutal betrayal. As a contract 'head agent' for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service based in Pakistan, Brodick's job is to train Afghans to capture video of the war against the Soviets. He is expected to follow orders, toe the line, keep Mrs T happy back in London. However, what he finds on the ground-in both Pakistan and Afghanistan-is a murky world of blurred lines and conflicting stories. He quickly realises he cannot trust anything he has been told, by anyone. What he had thought would be an adventure spying on the Soviets and their Afghan communist allies turns sour when he's ordered to kill his best friend. Will he betray his country or his friend? What side will he choose? "The mystery is why there aren't more books as good as this. The answer is very few of us have been to places as dark as this... John Fullerton has." Martin Cruz Smith (The Monkey House)

'Authentic, taut and compelling. Brookes is the real deal' Charles Cumming Fearing for his life, journalist Philip Mangan has gone into hiding from the Chinese agents who have identified him as a British spy. His reputation and life are in tatters. But when he is caught in a terrorist attack in East Africa and a shadowy Chinese figure approaches him in the dead of night with information on the origins of the atrocity, Mangan is suddenly back in the eye of the storm. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away on a humid Hong Kong night, a key MI6 source is murdered minutes after meeting spy Trish Patterson. From Washington, D.C. to the hallowed halls of Oxford University and dusty African streets, a sinister power is stirring that will use Mangan and Patterson as its pawns - if they survive. Deeply steeped in tension and paranoia, Spy Games is Adam Brookes' follow-up to his award-nominated debut Night Heron and a remarkable, groundbreaking spy thriller.

While the reality of intelligence gathering isn’t always as thrilling as popular spy novels and films make it seem, modern intelligence gathering operations are ample and a crucial part of diplomacy and military operations. This in-depth guide covers the nature and intriguing history of intelligence gathering. The types and sources of intelligence are presented thoroughly alongside important historical examples of spy operations or technologies used in the spy game. The text also provides a comprehensive guide to the world’s most notable national intelligence systems, including those of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia.

Formerly Ninja 1990, this updated edition includes everything from exotic poisons and shooting knives to fiber optics and infrared monitoring to climbing sheer walls and reading minds. And now you'll learn how to see in the dark with your home-built starlight scope or IR viewer, make your own bulletproof vest, access hidden data banks, change IDs at will, build three weapon systems from a cheap commercial rifle and more.

Espionage is as old as civilization itself. From the early scouts of ancient empires to the covert operations that shape modern geopolitics, the art of gathering intelligence and using it to influence events has been a key driver in the world’s most pivotal moments. Yet, despite its long history, espionage remains shrouded in mystery, glamorized by popular media but rarely understood in its true complexity. The world of spies, secrets, and shadows often lies beyond the grasp of everyday knowledge, confined to the realms of classified documents and darkened corridors. This book aims to peel back the layers, offering readers an in-depth exploration of how espionage truly works—from the motivations and methods that define it to the tools and techniques used by those who operate behind the scenes. In crafting this book, the goal is not just to reveal the inner workings of intelligence agencies or the tactics of undercover operatives but to highlight the strategic importance of espionage in a constantly shifting global landscape. Through case studies, historical analysis, and a closer look at modern developments, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of this critical, yet often misunderstood, profession. Espionage today is more complex than ever before. The digital age has introduced new challenges and opportunities, with cyber espionage now taking center stage alongside traditional fieldwork. Nations, corporations, and even individuals engage in espionage for a variety of purposes, from national security to economic gain. As this field continues to evolve, the importance of understanding its mechanisms has never been greater. In the following chapters, we will explore the vast world of intelligence gathering, the people who risk their lives to obtain information, and the shadowy power struggles that occur between competing agencies and nations. Whether you are a student of history, a lover of spy fiction, or simply someone curious about the world of intelligence, I hope this book provides insight, intrigue, and a new appreciation for the complexities of espionage. Welcome to the world of spies.

"A wealth of information in an engaging package." — Kirkus Reviews Ever since George Washington used them to help topple the British, spies and their networks have helped and hurt America at key moments in history. In this fascinating collection, Paul B. Janeczko probes examples from clothesline codes to surveillance satellites and cyber espionage. Colorful personalities, daring missions, the feats of the loyal, and the damage of traitors are interspersed with a look at the technological advances that continue to change the rules of gathering intelligence. Back matter includes source notes and a bibliography.