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The Old Spook
The Old Spook is a spy/mystery novel about a fictional CIA operative (spook) who interacts with real people and actual events in recent history on a global stage, confronting guerrilla chieftains, Mafia figures, and KGB agents in Miami, Mexico, and Central and South America. Experience the art of espionage and the craft of intelligence neatly packaged in a tale of adventure and intrigue. Available also in paperback at Amazon.com
- GenresThriller
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 26, 2015
This is an unusual book: somewhere between a Cold War spy story and a roman a'clef. It's a story about the CIA in Central America and the Caribbean with its climax in the Bay of Pigs. I am inclined to think of it as one of the great novels of the Cold War. Not much blood or sex or romance, just the reality of agents living in dreary tropical places on assignments to advance the national interests of the United States, mostly in actions against the Communists in a part of the world which in those days was of little interest to both the KGB and the CIA. Many of the characters are real, i.e.not fictional, figures and readers familiar with the CIA's history will recognize them.
This book is also very good at describing the CIA Head Office's millieu and its overall literary quality is high. Readers not familiar with the CIA in the Cold War will enjoy this book as a low-key thriller, something like Alan Furst, but much better on the details - There are no anomalies, or at least I could not find any. Still, for these readers, the book may justify only four stats, but for the remaining minority, this is definitely first rate and five stars. I was sorry to see that the author has not written another book on this period, but one can always hope.
This book is also very good at describing the CIA Head Office's millieu and its overall literary quality is high. Readers not familiar with the CIA in the Cold War will enjoy this book as a low-key thriller, something like Alan Furst, but much better on the details - There are no anomalies, or at least I could not find any. Still, for these readers, the book may justify only four stats, but for the remaining minority, this is definitely first rate and five stars. I was sorry to see that the author has not written another book on this period, but one can always hope.
March 29, 2017
Wooden writing about wooden characters in the Central-American part of the CIA. The wooden statue (a carving of Nathan Hale) is the most believable persona.
December 31, 2014
The Old Spook is an intriguing first novel for retired professor Charles Ameringer, who has written numerous academic works. The author's knowledge of central America and the Caribbean is well used in crafting a story that takes place over about five decades, although not necessarily chronologically. His protagonist, Tom Miller, is both believable, fallible, and complex. His life is definitely not simple and straight forward, as he's sent to deal with tricky situations all over Latin America and bounced in and out of the CIA a time or two, all of which wreaks havoc with his attempts at a personal life. The writer weaves real historical developments (Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Iran Contra affair, various Latin American political events, etc.) fairly seamlessly into the fabric of the story, adding to its believability.
This book is well worth reading, especially for those interested in spies, thrillers, Cuba and Latin America in the 20th century, and first novels. The writer's superior knowledge of related history shines through, perhaps too well at times, and the very few editing blips will probably go unnoticed by most readers. Well done, indeed.
This book is well worth reading, especially for those interested in spies, thrillers, Cuba and Latin America in the 20th century, and first novels. The writer's superior knowledge of related history shines through, perhaps too well at times, and the very few editing blips will probably go unnoticed by most readers. Well done, indeed.
July 27, 2016
Charles Ameringer is a distinguished former professor of Latin American history and intelligence analyst, having written and published well received studies on Latin America as well as a respected analysis of U.S. intelligence, "U.S. Foreign Intelligence: The Secret Side of American History."
In his first venture into fiction writing, "The Old Spook," Ameringer brings us CIA officer, Tom Miller and his serpentine adventures from Chile to Costa Rica to Milwaukee (as a detective) to the inner bowels of America's intelligence apparatus. The author applies his deep, first-hand knowledge of these locales as well as the cold war climate of the 1950s to the 1980s to weave an intricate plot of espionage, betrayal and irony. In a sort of Forrest Gump fashion, he populates his story with real-life figures, ranging from Former CIA Director Richard Helms to Jimmy Hoffa to Sam Giancana to Aldrich Ames, and has his protagonist interact with them or their associates. Even someone well versed in recent history can have a hard time separating fiction from fact in Mr. Ameringer's cleverly crafted tale. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of botched assassination attempts against Fidel Castro. In Part II, after Tom Miller has quit the CIA to become a Milwaukee sleuth, he gets caught up in a web of mafia and CIA intrigue that leads to a threat against his life. I'll stop at this point, lest I commit a spoiler.
I would like to have seen more showing as opposed to telling as well as more character development. But for those in search of a fast-paced tale of spooks, wise guys and Latin America, "The Old Spook" is worth a read.
In his first venture into fiction writing, "The Old Spook," Ameringer brings us CIA officer, Tom Miller and his serpentine adventures from Chile to Costa Rica to Milwaukee (as a detective) to the inner bowels of America's intelligence apparatus. The author applies his deep, first-hand knowledge of these locales as well as the cold war climate of the 1950s to the 1980s to weave an intricate plot of espionage, betrayal and irony. In a sort of Forrest Gump fashion, he populates his story with real-life figures, ranging from Former CIA Director Richard Helms to Jimmy Hoffa to Sam Giancana to Aldrich Ames, and has his protagonist interact with them or their associates. Even someone well versed in recent history can have a hard time separating fiction from fact in Mr. Ameringer's cleverly crafted tale. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of botched assassination attempts against Fidel Castro. In Part II, after Tom Miller has quit the CIA to become a Milwaukee sleuth, he gets caught up in a web of mafia and CIA intrigue that leads to a threat against his life. I'll stop at this point, lest I commit a spoiler.
I would like to have seen more showing as opposed to telling as well as more character development. But for those in search of a fast-paced tale of spooks, wise guys and Latin America, "The Old Spook" is worth a read.
February 19, 2015
The Old Spook is a classic espionage story that tracks the adventures of Agent Tom Miller from his early involvement in the Cuban Revolution through the unraveling of the Iran-Contra Affair. The focus of this engrossing story is Latin America from the 1950’s through the 1980’s, when the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was mostly hot. This may seem like ancient history, but the ramifications of this shadow war will impact international relations between Northern, Southern and Central American nations far into the twenty-first century. Failure to comprehend this legacy, will only serve to undermine future attempts to heal old wounds and forge new bonds of cooperation and understanding.
Ameringer’s “fictional” portrayal includes the names of actual players involved in real events. Here the line between truth and fiction is drawn with shadows. Having been there, Ameringer has spent his life chronicling what happened during this tumultuous period. The story of The Old Spook is a journey across the river of time that will leave you yearning to know more. Knowledge is power.
Ameringer’s “fictional” portrayal includes the names of actual players involved in real events. Here the line between truth and fiction is drawn with shadows. Having been there, Ameringer has spent his life chronicling what happened during this tumultuous period. The story of The Old Spook is a journey across the river of time that will leave you yearning to know more. Knowledge is power.
January 23, 2023
I really enjoyed The Old Spook. It depicts the adventures of a fictional CIA covert field operative in the Latin American section; first as a CIA employe, then as a private investigator and finally as a government contractor. The narrative's strength is that the adventures are real. Most of them were reported on the front pages of US newspapers from the 1954 coup in Guatemala to the first concerns in the 1990s that Aldrich Ames was a KGB mole. They include the Bay of Pigs debacle, the attempts on Castro's life, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy assassinaton, the Iran-Contra Affair and more. The author, Charles Ameringer, knows what he was writing about. He is an Emeritus Professor of Latin American History at Penn State. This should have been a fast, easy read, but I found myself appreciating the educational opportunity and spent a lot of time researching the many events and scores of characters. My only criticism is that the narrator implies that the protagonist is too perfect, even when he's conflicted. When he experiences an alcoholic breakdown, his employer and the narrator are quick to portray this as acceptable behavior. When he doesn't approve of someone, that character proves to be a bad actor. I would prefer a subject I could recognize as real, but this is just a matter of personal preference.Readers who enjoyed Somerset Maugham's Ashenden stories will find a lot to enjoy in The Old Spook.
March 31, 2013
"The Old Spook" by Charles Ameringer is a rare blend of historical facts with a fictional spy and intelligence story. about CIA agent Tom Miller.
The author is clearly well informed and educated in the politics and the history of 1950s to 1980s Latin America and paints a convincing and intriguing picture of the cold war and the socialist / communist 'threat' to the continent and North America. At times it is rather complicated to follow the portrayal of the complex relationships between the many countries and interest groups involved but the book remains fascinating and a compelling and rewarding read throughout.
I will also testify to my fellow Europeans that this is a pretty un-biased account of the cold war, despite being told by an American and is certainly worth a read regardless of political or patriotic colouring.
Told in separate parts the narrative skips a few years from before the Cuban Revolution to after, then moves to Costa Rica, covering a lot of territory and therefore showing a large spectrum of underhand dealings and the effects of political and business interests.
The writing is very competent and runs smoothly, the technical credentials are all there.
The plot of the actual spy story is cleverly woven around the historical data but might have benefited from a little more fleshing out of the characters. I am a big fan of history and am very grateful for this rare opportunity to enjoy such an entertaining and rewarding history 'lesson'.
The author is clearly well informed and educated in the politics and the history of 1950s to 1980s Latin America and paints a convincing and intriguing picture of the cold war and the socialist / communist 'threat' to the continent and North America. At times it is rather complicated to follow the portrayal of the complex relationships between the many countries and interest groups involved but the book remains fascinating and a compelling and rewarding read throughout.
I will also testify to my fellow Europeans that this is a pretty un-biased account of the cold war, despite being told by an American and is certainly worth a read regardless of political or patriotic colouring.
Told in separate parts the narrative skips a few years from before the Cuban Revolution to after, then moves to Costa Rica, covering a lot of territory and therefore showing a large spectrum of underhand dealings and the effects of political and business interests.
The writing is very competent and runs smoothly, the technical credentials are all there.
The plot of the actual spy story is cleverly woven around the historical data but might have benefited from a little more fleshing out of the characters. I am a big fan of history and am very grateful for this rare opportunity to enjoy such an entertaining and rewarding history 'lesson'.
March 26, 2013
Interesting account of CIA activities in Latin America, 1950s through 1980s. as seen through the eyes of an fictitious field operative. The reader is also exposed to some basic intelligence trade craft. I feel the author's view of these events is evenly balanced, considering that it had to come from unclassified sources. The main character, however, remained largely undeveloped throughout the story; he participates in, but is largely unaffected by the events. It is as if the author desired to protect "Tom Miller" by not revealing too much of his personality. As a result, "Tom Miller" comes across as rather flat.
December 23, 2014
If you’re interested in the early rock-em-sock-em, no-holds-barred days of the CIA, when the agency was plotting regime overthrows and assassinations all over the world, ‘The Old Spook’ is for you. This roman a clef begins in 1977, as CIA agent Tom Miller reminisces about the 26 years he spent in the agency until new director Stansfield Turner summarily canned him and 800 other agents.
Most of the characters in The Old Spook are real people involved in real mid-Twentieth Century political intrigues. The action begins in 1954, with Miller’s first job as part of the CIA team that orchestrated the overthrow of Guatemalan president Jacobo Arbenz. After Arbenz is ousted, Miller moves on to Mexico’s National University, where he poses as a researcher from Tulane so he can infiltrate the growing leftist movement in Mexico.
Tom Miller spends much of his career being bounced around from one Latin American hot potato to another, including the CIA’s attempt to have the Mafia assassinate Castro, the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion, the downfall of Salvador Allende and the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in Chile. Ironically, though, for all the Big Stage projects in Miller’s career, his life doesn’t get really exciting until he leaves the CIA.
In 1978, he moves back to Milwaukee, where he grew up, and begins working as a private detective. He’s hired to find Jack Aldo, a guy who disappeared without a trace. As fate would have it, he unwittingly gets entangled in some unfinished business the CIA has with the Mafia. The more he looks into the mysterious disappearance of Aldo, the more danger he encounters.
Author Charles Ameringer writes about Tom Miller’s exploits with such authority you’d think he was an ex-CIA agent, not a retired professor of Latin American studies at Penn State. The man really has a lock on the seamy side of the CIA during its early years.
Most of the characters in The Old Spook are real people involved in real mid-Twentieth Century political intrigues. The action begins in 1954, with Miller’s first job as part of the CIA team that orchestrated the overthrow of Guatemalan president Jacobo Arbenz. After Arbenz is ousted, Miller moves on to Mexico’s National University, where he poses as a researcher from Tulane so he can infiltrate the growing leftist movement in Mexico.
Tom Miller spends much of his career being bounced around from one Latin American hot potato to another, including the CIA’s attempt to have the Mafia assassinate Castro, the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion, the downfall of Salvador Allende and the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in Chile. Ironically, though, for all the Big Stage projects in Miller’s career, his life doesn’t get really exciting until he leaves the CIA.
In 1978, he moves back to Milwaukee, where he grew up, and begins working as a private detective. He’s hired to find Jack Aldo, a guy who disappeared without a trace. As fate would have it, he unwittingly gets entangled in some unfinished business the CIA has with the Mafia. The more he looks into the mysterious disappearance of Aldo, the more danger he encounters.
Author Charles Ameringer writes about Tom Miller’s exploits with such authority you’d think he was an ex-CIA agent, not a retired professor of Latin American studies at Penn State. The man really has a lock on the seamy side of the CIA during its early years.
April 23, 2013
Book Review-”The Old Spook” by Charles Ameringer 4 stars and a “Hang Onto Your Seat” Shout Out!
If you like your spy novels and American foreign policy, you will love this spider web of espionage writing. Its defined as fiction but feels like a walkthrough of history as it really happened, thanks to all the well researched details. We follow Tom Miller, CIA Agent through all the events that shaped our not too far off recent history. From Costa Rica and Nicaragua to the Bay of Pigs and Cuban missiles… its all here, as Tom gets to the center of all the secret wars. Everything and everywhere is touched upon here from Russian agents, Lee Harvey Oswald, Oliver North , and even the plot to assassinate Fidel Castro.
The author couldn’t be more qualified to tell the tale. Charles Ameringer is a Professor emeritus of Latin American history at Penn State University, a former captain in the USAF Reserve and a former Intelligence Analyst in the U.S. Department of Defense.
A great read, entertaining and powerful, a story that leaves you constantly on the edge. Furthermore, all author royalties will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Highly recommended.
4 stars out of five
Reviewed by Roger Gerald Scott, Award Winning Published Author and Debra L Hartmann, Published Author, Professional Editor and daily Blogger
If you like your spy novels and American foreign policy, you will love this spider web of espionage writing. Its defined as fiction but feels like a walkthrough of history as it really happened, thanks to all the well researched details. We follow Tom Miller, CIA Agent through all the events that shaped our not too far off recent history. From Costa Rica and Nicaragua to the Bay of Pigs and Cuban missiles… its all here, as Tom gets to the center of all the secret wars. Everything and everywhere is touched upon here from Russian agents, Lee Harvey Oswald, Oliver North , and even the plot to assassinate Fidel Castro.
The author couldn’t be more qualified to tell the tale. Charles Ameringer is a Professor emeritus of Latin American history at Penn State University, a former captain in the USAF Reserve and a former Intelligence Analyst in the U.S. Department of Defense.
A great read, entertaining and powerful, a story that leaves you constantly on the edge. Furthermore, all author royalties will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Highly recommended.
4 stars out of five
Reviewed by Roger Gerald Scott, Award Winning Published Author and Debra L Hartmann, Published Author, Professional Editor and daily Blogger
March 14, 2013
Charles Ameringer pens "The Old Spook" in an entertaining and powerful plot filled with spies, secret wars, CIA agents and foreign countries. A nice bit of history told as fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I wasn't real sure about the book in the beginning, since I'm not a real history buff, but it turned out that I couldn't put it down once I got started. I just loved the book and the fact that all author royalties from this book will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, something that is rarely seen anymore. Highly recommended for all readers.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
December 5, 2014
A Walk in the Shadows of Cold War Espionage
3.75 Stars
Within the pages of this book a believable blend of history and fiction. The story is well research and tightly woven. From page one it was obvious that the author was quite comfortable with the material. It was an informative read and something I feel comfortable recommending to readers who enjoy their fiction with a heavy historical base.
What kept me from rating this higher is what felt to be thinness of development for the main character. Even with that being said, I did enjoy the book.
** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. **
3.75 Stars
Within the pages of this book a believable blend of history and fiction. The story is well research and tightly woven. From page one it was obvious that the author was quite comfortable with the material. It was an informative read and something I feel comfortable recommending to readers who enjoy their fiction with a heavy historical base.
What kept me from rating this higher is what felt to be thinness of development for the main character. Even with that being said, I did enjoy the book.
** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. **
April 1, 2013
I lived through these times so it's all brought back to me, the secret story behind the headlines. Although it's fiction, it reads like fact and I felt I was at Tom Miller's elbow throughout the narrative. There's also a useful glossary at the back. Highly recommended if you have any interest in spies, espionage tales or recent history.
April 24, 2014
This book brought back many memories for me. Although I did not work in the American hemisphere, I was well aware of many of the references to historical events. I enjoyed following the main character traveling through time as he became immersed in all the covert activities The Company was involved in. Old spooks don't die, they just fade away into the crevice of history.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews