Former MI6 officer Harry Ferguson gives behind the scenes information including things not shown on screen. He shows how to lie without being caught, how to follow someone without being spotted and how to spot those who might be following you. He reveals the secrets of walk-ins, gangplank approaches, false flag operations, dead letter boxes and brush contacts. There are sections on how to construct an alternative identity, how to check your house for bugging devices and your car for bombs, how to disappear in a crowd by 'going grey'and how agents are spotted and recruited. But Spy also goes beyond the techniques of espionage to examine a range of issues facing today's intelligence services - the morality of using assassination and blackmail, the heroes and villains of the espionage world, and how modern terrorists are able to evade detection by Western intelligence organisations. At the end of it all he even tells you how to apply for a job with the real intelligence services.
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About the Author
Harry Ferguson is a former MI6 offier, who later worked undercover with Customs and Excise for eight years and is now a full-time writer. His first book, Kilo 17 (Bloomsbury, 2003), told the inside story of a close-knit Customs team during a major drugs investigation. The sequel Lima 3: Taking on the Heroin Traffickers will be published in June 2005.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By WhiteCrane
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
So many books on espionage concentrate on James Bond style gadgets. This book avoids that and,as well as chapters defining what intelligence is, developing a cover or new identity,and surveillance and countersurveillance, it has excellent information on the core of espionage which is agent recruitment. This book stresses how to build relationships or if you want to be cynical about it,how to manipulate people.
Forget the movies and read this book written by an ex-MI6 officer.
Forget the movies and read this book written by an ex-MI6 officer.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is clearly designed to be an introduction to the subject for the general public so I suppose specialists will know much of what is in here, but even so it is an excellent read, especially good for dipping into rather than reading cover to cover. It is also a fascinating book because it is the only one about the craft of spying written by a real former MI6 officer. The emphasis of the book (the manipulation of people rather than use of bugs and gadgets) is intriguing. But the big question is: what happened to the TV series which the book was supposed to accompany? It's sounds as though it would have been great, but I never even heard that it was on.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Stegman
Format:Paperback
I think this book can't go without a DVD about this series because the writer refers to situations that happen in the series. It's a nice book, readable and not to farfetching. Entertaining and interesting.
By Brim01
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
So easy to read - one of the best writing styles. It's fluent, straight to the point, and a great book with lots of tips. I passed it on to my sister because it's one of those books I think everyone should read as you'd get something out of it about human behaviour.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book for Intelligence Agencies Operational Methods, and the most complete overview available in print to the public !!
4 Sep 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the operational methods and phychology behind todays spies, operatives, cut-outs and 'consultants' in the field. Rather than focus on silly stunts and gadgets, often concieved by the male ego and fiction writers, it is a thorough and indepth insight into the every day techniques and methods that any 'agent' or operative would use on a daily basis. The comprehensive information and personal approach to it all makes it feel like a bespoke manual for a recruit, rather than a generic overview that is often seen in the public domain.
Most importantly it describes in detail the personality traits and communication skills required and looked for, in any modern day operative. From designing a detailed alias, to constructing a reliable network, to being able to 'utilise' unsuspecting third parties, how to gain access via other people, and generally all the little details you need to know when either observing a mark, or having to employ counter surveillance techniques at any time.
Most impressively it covers every aspect from recruitment, basic profiling, manipulation, working in a team, diplomacy and the all-important psychology and cognitive behaviour to back it all up. The various surveillance methods, assessment points and strategic techniques are also described in great detail, so the reader can really get a greater picture of what could be happening around them in the field, both during deployment and when under observation.
A highly recommended read, and the most impressive collection of accurate and useful inside information available in one book today !! If it also contained a self-defence and hand to hand combat section, then it would almost be a complete training manual for any SIS recruit...... Read more ›
Most importantly it describes in detail the personality traits and communication skills required and looked for, in any modern day operative. From designing a detailed alias, to constructing a reliable network, to being able to 'utilise' unsuspecting third parties, how to gain access via other people, and generally all the little details you need to know when either observing a mark, or having to employ counter surveillance techniques at any time.
Most impressively it covers every aspect from recruitment, basic profiling, manipulation, working in a team, diplomacy and the all-important psychology and cognitive behaviour to back it all up. The various surveillance methods, assessment points and strategic techniques are also described in great detail, so the reader can really get a greater picture of what could be happening around them in the field, both during deployment and when under observation.
A highly recommended read, and the most impressive collection of accurate and useful inside information available in one book today !! If it also contained a self-defence and hand to hand combat section, then it would almost be a complete training manual for any SIS recruit...... Read more ›
By The Reviewer
Format:Paperback
Packed with intriguing tradecraft but it's mostly obvious stuff. Occasionally though you read something and find it has practical applications, a good read anyway.
13 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Sam Jones
Format:Paperback
I had read "Kilo17", and was very surprised to find out about this book from Ferguson. Well, really, how much of an expert can he pretend to be, given he has barely spent a year or two with 6 ?
That's what he says in his first book, when he explains how he ended up assigned to HMCE.
Mind you the book content is not uninteresting, but nothing you can't find anywhere else through open sources. Which confirmed my impression of a very relative field "expertise" from the author.
That's what he says in his first book, when he explains how he ended up assigned to HMCE.
Mind you the book content is not uninteresting, but nothing you can't find anywhere else through open sources. Which confirmed my impression of a very relative field "expertise" from the author.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Daniel Baron
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
extremely interesting book- never saw the series however the book was incredible lots of interestin info f f f
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