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Gordon D. Thomas
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Gideon's Spies: The Inside Story of Israel's Legendary Secret Service The Mossad Paperback – 4 Sept. 2014

by Gordon Thomas (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 563 ratings
on any 4 Terms
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'Literally impossible to put down’ New York Times Book Review

Gordon Thomas has a grasp of history… this is one of the few books to have captured the true nature of the Israeli Government and the thorough process of the Israeli power elite. Ari Ben-Menashe, Former Adviser on Intelligence to the Israeli Government Created in 1951 to ensure an embattled Israel’ s future, the Mossad has been responsible for the most audacious and thrilling feats of espionage, counterterrorism and assassination ever ventured. Gideon’ s Spies has been created from closed-door interviews with Mossad agents, informants and spymasters, and drawing from classified documentsand top-secret sources, revealing previously untold truths about the Israeli intelligence agency.

Bang-up-to-date, this new paperback edition of this best-selling book includes startling new information on subjects ranging from Weapons of Mass Destruction, international terrorism, North Korea’ s bird-flu war games and ‘ ethnic bombs’ . The riveting text is supported by glossaries, appendices and shows a Mossad as it has historically been: brilliant, ruthless, flawed but ultimately fascinating. 

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  1. Print length
    720 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Aurum
  4. Publication date
    4 Sept. 2014
  5. Dimensions
    19.8 x 5.1 x 13 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1781312818
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1781312810
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Product description

Review

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About the Author

GORDON THOMAS is a bestselling author of 40 books published worldwide, a number dealing with the intelligence world. His awards include the Citizens Commission for Human Rights Lifetime Achievement Award for Investigative Journalism, the Mark Twain Society Award for Reporting Excellence, and an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Investigation. He lives in Ireland.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aurum
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 4 Sept. 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ PB Reissue
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 720 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1781312818
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1781312810
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.8 x 5.1 x 13 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 52,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 563 ratings

About the author

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Gordon D. Thomas

Gordon D. Thomas

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Gordon Thomas is a political and investigative journalist and the author of 53 books, published in more than 30 countries and in dozens of languages. The total sales of his works exceed 45 million copies.

Thomas’ most recent bestseller is Gideon’s Spies: Mossad’s Secret Warriors. Published in 16 languages and 40 countries Gideon’s Spies is known throughout the world as the leading resource on Israeli intelligence. An updated edition will be published in 2012 by St. Martin’s Press. Gideon’s Spies was made into a major documentary for Channel Four in Britain, which Thomas wrote and narrated, called The Spy Machine. The Observer called The Spy Machine a “clear” picture of Israeli intelligence operations, and The Times called it “impressive,” and ”chilling.”

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
563 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging, with one noting it kept them gripped like a fantastic novel. Moreover, the information quality receives positive feedback, with one review highlighting the well-researched sources in every chapter. Additionally, they appreciate the fascinating history of Mossad and the insights into significant political events. However, the writing quality and authenticity receive mixed reviews, with some finding it well written while others consider it poorly written, and while many find it believable, others question its authenticity. The pacing and ease of reading also get mixed reactions, with some describing it as frightening while others find it easy to read.

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ReadabilityInformation qualityStory qualityInsightWriting qualityAuthenticityPacingEase of reading
64 customers mention ‘Readability’61 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an extraordinary and brilliant read, with one customer noting it held their attention from the outset.

"I liked this book , it is very interesting. Highly recomend to all of you sceptics,it gives you a totally new perspective!" Read more

"Very interesting book. The contents are rather small print however it is certainly a full and interesting insight into a very secretive organisation...." Read more

"A good read." Read more

"Excellent book very absorbing and detailed" Read more

25 customers mention ‘Information quality’24 positive1 negative

Customers praise the book's well-researched content, providing insights into historical events and revealing information about well-known situations.

"...Read non stop. Brilliantly researched and literally covers the globe since the creation of modern Israel." Read more

"Interesting read. Well researched and many first hand accounts of what really goes on inside Mossad...." Read more

"well researched,thought provoking and at the same time disturbing...." Read more

"An excellent and informative book. Very interesting and keeps you in touch with events you did not know or had forgotten." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Story quality’10 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the fascinating history of Mossad presented in the book, with one customer describing it as a wonderful journey through recent history.

"Should be a really interesting story, but is so badly written as to be almost unreadable." Read more

"...in international security circles, and he weaves some wonderful tales of world-wide intrigue, including the death of Princess Diana and the horrors..." Read more

"...So is this a work of fact or fiction? It certainly contains a lot of great stories that I enjoyed immensely, it also provides a good insight to..." Read more

"Fascinating run through of the spy business. Some very interesting historical facts I was not aware of. Well worth a read." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Insight’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides fascinating insights into significant political events and historical occurrences, with one customer highlighting its detailed look at Mossad operations.

"A fascinating insight into the world's most formidable secret service organisation." Read more

"Interesting insight into what goes on inthe wirld and the relationships between friendly and non friendly governments - in a way depressing as you..." Read more

"well researched,thought provoking and at the same time disturbing...." Read more

"This is a weighty book, full of information, facts, history and insights...." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Writing quality’10 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it very well written, particularly praising its account of Mossad operations, while others describe it as poorly written.

"...Very well written and easy to understand." Read more

"Should be a really interesting story, but is so badly written as to be almost unreadable." Read more

"...A well written, balanced account of the agency's success and failures, it's people and their mindset. God bless Israel." Read more

"well written book exposing world events that occurred during my lifetime...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Authenticity’8 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the authenticity of the book, with some finding it believable and real, while others note it contains unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories.

"...The accounts, though real, kept me gripped like a fantastic novel. My respect for the author and Mossad. Long live the fighters of Justice...." Read more

"...well organised in terms of a thread of time or themes, strays towards conspiracy theories. Gave up about 2/3 of the way through...." Read more

"...about the Israeli secret services - incredible facts but totally believable. Page turning magic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!" Read more

"...Everything rings true." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Pacing’4 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the pacing of the book, with some finding it almost frightening, while one customer describes it as page-turning magic.

"...A fascinating glimpse into the murky world of international intelligence gathering, this book sheds new light onto events that have shook the world..." Read more

"quite interesting but jumped around too much, going backward and forward with the years." Read more

"Excellent, gratifying, frightening, amazing, truly eye opening. The accounts, though real, kept me gripped like a fantastic novel...." Read more

"Brilliant but worrying. I did not realise what goes on in the real world of espionage." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Ease of reading’4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability.

"Excellent book.I find it easy reading." Read more

"...be a really interesting story, but is so badly written as to be almost unreadable." Read more

"...It's not a difficult book to read either as the author intersperses so much detail, with a lot of history, that I can remember because I have lived..." Read more

"I found this book to be very infomative and easy to read, making it very hard to put down...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Dominic Madden
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great service
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great read
    Helpful
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  • Casper
    4.0 out of 5 stars RF
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting read. Well researched and many first hand accounts of what really goes on inside Mossad. A ruthless, driven organisation determined to protect Israel and it's interests.

    A good book for a thorough understanding of Mossad.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • nana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, informative, a real treat to read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is a weighty book, full of information, facts, history and insights. It's not a difficult book to read either as the author intersperses so much detail, with a lot of history, that I can remember because I have lived through it. I enjoyed reading it although some evidence was tough to read, understand and come to terms with.
    Helpful
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  • Steve j f
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very interesting book. The contents are rather small print however it is certainly a full and interesting insight into a very secretive organisation. Very enjoyable read.
    Helpful
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  • Cheshire Tiger
    3.0 out of 5 stars A long, ambitious Work.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is quite a good book, but it is flawed in that it is too long, discursive and repetitive. It gives an interesting picture of the Mossad, but often strays off topic. Apart from Israeli and Arab leaders, the cast includes George W Bush, Tony Blair, Vladimir Putin, Robert Maxwell, Condoleezza Rice and many others. Even Jeffrey Archer gets a mention. There's plenty of conspiracy theory and various incidents are looked into in great detail: Lillehammer, Entebbe, the death of Princess Diana (twice), the attempted assassination of John Paul II, the Gulf Wars, the capture of Saddam Hussein, 9/11, the London tube bombings and the Bali bomb, for example. In many of these, Mossad was just a bit player. The book was written before the assassination of Osama bin Laden, but in time for the author to refer to the "monumental mistake(s)" of Bush and Blair.

    Inevitably there are flaws. We are told that David Kimche left Oxford University with a Social Science degree in 1968, but not only would he have been thirty or more probably forty at the time, but also Oxford did not have such a degree then. In addition, we are told that he then joined Mossad, but a few pages later that turns out to have been "in the early sixties". Also, the attempted assassination of John Paul II is given a date of May 1981, but a few pages later there is a reference to "only three months before, in February 1983". And he gets the date of the collapse of the Berlin Wall wrong too (a year early).

    This is a pity, because the author appears to have done a great amount of detailed research in order to produce a long, interesting and worthy volume. But he is prone to name dropping, and there even seems to be a tendency to self indulgence.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • patricia oliver
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 October 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I am three-quarters through this book and it has held my attention completely. Although about Mossad it also includes very heavily nearly every country's secret service. I find it riveting and disturbing in equal measure. What really happened behind some of the news headlines of the past is often very different and coldly calculating to how it was reported at the time. Absolutely no-one comes out smelling of roses and all in the name of defence of one's country or reputation. One feels glad not to be part of that sordid world and despair that men (mostly men) feel obliged to lead such sordid lives. And yet, perversely, one cheers slightly when your country's secret service manages to outwit another. I recommend this book very much though you will have to live with a bad taste having read it. Very well written and easy to understand.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mike George
    4.0 out of 5 stars They're not infallible...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Just because they are famed for their vengeance over the killing of the Israeli Olympic athletes, and the brilliant success of the raid on Entebbe, we tend to think of the Mossad as an infallible force. This book demonstrates that they can, and do, make mistakes. However, Gordon Thomas is obviously well-connected in international security circles, and he weaves some wonderful tales of world-wide intrigue, including the death of Princess Diana and the horrors of Nine-eleven. I'd give it five stars, were it not a little over-long, and a bit inclined to jump from one subject to another, then back again several chapters later. However, its a great read.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Knowledge1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best read in a very long time
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Gordon Thomas has set the bar really high in this book. There is no other book on Mossad that can match Gideon's Spies. Well researched sources in every chapter which clearly paints the perfect picture of past and future history of Israel. A well written, balanced account of the agency's success and failures, it's people and their mindset. God bless Israel.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Grand Master B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very exciting and partly unbelievable...
    Reviewed in Germany on 25 February 2015
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Got myself the kindle version of this book and had a hard time putting down the pad since I wanted to continue reading these wild and spooky stories about what happened behind the scenes of the worlds stage. Sometimes it is almost unbelievable what seemed to be going on, in other chapters it seems to make sense though I have never seen the situation in that angle before. Nevertheless great entertainment. It's like a Tom Clancy novel, only that the stories seemed to have really happened. Sure you all like it. 😊
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  • David J
    3.0 out of 5 stars The author (now dead) clearly had some impeccable sources such ...
    Reviewed in Australia on 8 May 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    The author (now dead) clearly had some impeccable sources such as Rafi Eitan. But there are also some basic and quite fundamental errors of fact in this book. Helicopters do not have a silent mode they can switch on or off. Tempest is not the name of the capability to monitor conversations by laser microphone - it is the capability to eavesdrop on electromagnetic radiation emanating from a computer monitor. This is just sloppy. If such basic stuff can be gotten wrong, it causes me to question the veracity of some of the more significant claims - such as the fact that Israels submarines were ready to nuke Iran in 2005. That said, when read through a critical thinking lens, this is still an interesting book which was clearly quite influential when first published - and gives some intriguing insights into Mossad's modus operandi and global reach. A service to be respected.
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  • billy healy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gideons spies,
    Reviewed in the United States on 12 September 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Super yarn! Asked myself could mossad actually do all this, and the answer is yes, as the author convinced me so!
    The story seems to jump a bit as in the case of Diana, and the IRA in Gibraltar, not tied down in detail enough for me, but overall an excellent read!
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  • North Wind
    4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and truthful. G. Thomas could have condensed certain long narrations.
    Reviewed in France on 15 October 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This book could have been shorter. G. Thomas likes to spin the 'legally mandated' assassination episodes in his story. One question remains: would it be possible to do a similar book on other intelligence services?
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  • Sanjay Pal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awweome!!!!!!
    Reviewed in India on 13 June 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Earlier books from Amazon came with a bookmark in the package, but perhaps the practice has been stopped..Anyways the book is a must read for anyone who wants a deep insight into the working of the world best spy agency, the MOSSAD. More importantly, the commanders specially Meir Amit, u get to know their perspective and hell, a lot many more things...
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