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 Charles Cumming back to the show. Support us on Patreon for even more content. Charles joins Spybrary to discuss his new Lachlan Kite thriller, ICARUS 17 , released on 2 July in the UK and 7 July in the United States. Billed a...

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 community has kept it going, and what comes next for the Spybrary spy podcast. Full shownotes at www.spybrary.com/300

Brad Thor has sold over 25 million thriller books. Tim Shipman welcomes Brad Thor on Spybrary to discuss Choke Point , 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-mov...

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 Fakers: A Top Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Line .and the extraordinary true story of the Information Research Department — Britain's...

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 zon...

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, Stalin's Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire — a major re-examination of Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross. But this is not the familia...

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  Ayo Onatade  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 fictio...

Guest host Matthew Hurst sits down with author Michael Dylan to explore his debut spy thriller The New Spy . 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 d...

We share the sad news that renowned spy novelist Len Deighton has passed away at 97. We pay tribute to his incredible work, discussing why he was considered the greatest spy novelist and his impact on cold war espionage. His contributions to the spy thriller genre remembered. Len Deighton didn't just write spy novels… he changed the genre.  In this episode, we take a step back and reflect on the l...

What happens when a legendary screenwriter turns decades of espionage ideas into an epic literary spy saga? On this episode of the Spybrary podcast, Michael Frost Beckner joins Bruce Dravis to unpack Kaleidoscope , the Spy Game universe, CIA family legacies, his influences, moral ambiguity, and the hidden machinery of intelligence. A must-listen/watch for serious spy fiction fans. Join the Spybrar...

Tim Shipman sits down with thriller author James Wolff who worked as a British intelligence officer for over ten years. They unpack his latest spy novel Spies and Other Gods . Wolff shares how a single line in a UK parliamentary oversight report (the Intelligence and Security Committee ) sparked the novel's core idea . An anonymous whistleblower sends British Intelligence into a frenzy, threatenin...

Spybrary's James Bond Book Club jumps back to 1966 to discuss Ian Fleming's final book of 007 short stories— Octopussy and The Living Daylights . The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion: spy fiction is exploding , and Fleming's legacy may be less about continuation novels and more about how he opened the floodgates for Len Deighton, John le Carré, Modesty Blaise, Quiller, and the enti...

In this thriller author interview, Spywrite's Jeff Quest sits down with Ace Atkins to dive deep into his nostalgic Cold War spy novel Everybody Wants to Rule the World — a thrilling, 80s-set espionage adventure that blends suburban coming-of-age storytelling with high-stakes KGB intrigue. Support Spybrary on Patreon - help us keep the lights on at the Spybrary Safehouse Atkins shares how discoveri...

Bryan Boling sits down for a spoiler-free chat with novelist Michael Idov , diving into The Cormorant Hunt , the standalone sequel to his acclaimed spy thriller The Collaborators . Idov discusses the challenge of writing a compelling antagonist in Felix Burnham—a fusion of Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate who pushes protagonist Ari Falk to his limits. They explore how real-world extremism, post-COV...

In 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 effo...

On this riveting episode of the Spybrary Spy podcast, British political journalist Tim Shipman is once again in conversation with David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst turned novelist, discussing his fourth and most ambitious book yet, The Persian . Departing from his CIA-rooted earlier work, McCloskey dives into the morally murky waters of the Israeli-Iranian shadow war. The novel, a high-stakes...

Guest host Jim Wilton sits down with former U.S. military intelligence professional and author  Karl Wegener to discuss his Cold War–era historical spy thriller Operation Nightfall: Web of Spies . Wegener shares his personal background in U.S. Army intelligence and the CIA, how he transitioned into writing, and why he chose lesser‑known Cold War stories—especially those involving Polish resistance...

What if someone else could use your identity as a spy? In this episode of Spybrary, guest host Bryan Boling sits down with author David Goodman to talk about his debut novel, A Reluctant Spy 'Goodman's first book was a very polished high concept spy thriller, which delivered on its premise.' Tim Shipman Buy the Book David Goodman shares his writing background, how his ideas evolved into a publishe...

In the first Dead Drop Five episode of 2026, Spybrary host Shane Whaley welcomes new Spybrary guest host Bryan Boling for a deep dive into his five favourite spy books, the titles that Brian would request be stashed in the East Berlin Dead Drop. Full links to Brian's selection at https://www.spybrary.com/285 Join the Spybrary Community Today Brian, a history lover and spy book fan from Kentucky, c...

In this episode, we decode On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) — the boldest, most emotionally resonant Bond film of all. Joined by Bond aficionados Ian Douglas (Hildebrand), Andy Onyx (author), and Professor Michael Huie (Friday Night Frights Podcast), we dive into George Lazenby's one-time portrayal of James Bond, Peter Hunt's risky direction, Diana Rigg's unforgettable performance, and why t...

Was The Quiller Memorandum (1966) a misunderstood spy movie — or a cinematic misfire? In this episode of Spybrary , we go deep into one of the most divisive spy films of the 1960s. From the controversial casting of George Segal as the iconic British spy to Harold Pinter's slow-burning, subtext-heavy script, Quiller has split opinion for decades. But is it time for a reappraisal? Join 4,500+ spy fa...

Ajay Chowdhury reveals how the new James Bond Locations Atlas Darker Than The Sun maps 007's world like never before, blending real geography with film secrets and behind-the-scenes stories. Shane Whaley is joined by returning guest and leading James Bond authority Ajay Chowdhury . Co-author of the newly released James Bond Locations Guide Darker Than the Sun . This isn't your typical location gui...

What if spy skills like influence, persuasion, and reading people could transform your life? Ex-British intelligence officer Julian Fisher joins Spybrary to reveal the 9 essential spycraft skills anyone can learn. In this revealing and thought-provoking episode of Spybrary, former British intelligence officer Julian Fisher joins Shane to discuss the central thesis of his new book, Think Like a Spy...

I've read a lot of thrillers, but the way I realise that something is good is when I envy it, and I think, damn, I wish I could have come up with that! Jeremy Duns on Cover Story In this captivating episode of Spybrary, guest host, the spy thriller writer Jeremy Duns welcomes acclaimed historical fiction author R.N Morris to discuss his latest novel, "Cover Story." Dive into the world of espionage...