What do you think?
Rate this book
The Havana Syndrome: Invisible Weapons, a Government Cover-Up, and the Greatest Spy Mystery of Our Time
An explosive, inside account of the mysterious attacks on U.S. officials around the world via an unseen, highly specialized weapon that has left dozens of victims with life-altering injuries, and the U.S. government’s attempt to cover it up—with startling new evidence from an award-winning 60 Minutes team
For nearly a decade, U.S. diplomats, spies, and soldiers around the world have reported sudden, devastating neurological injuries—symptoms eerily consistent with exposure to a directed energy weapon. Victims were told their illnesses were “psychosomatic.” Government agencies dismissed the evidence. And the CIA insisted no adversary was behind it. As the cases grew, from Havana to Hanoi, the media dubbed the phenomenon “the Havana Syndrome.”
In this groundbreaking exposé, 60 Minutes producers Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados reveal the hidden history of the so-called Havana from early attacks in Cuba and China, to the spread across global hotspots from Tbilisi to Vienna, to the mounting evidence implicating an elite Russian “kill” unit. Drawing on more than nine years of reporting, including secret medical records, whistleblower testimony, and intelligence reports, they expose not only the technology behind the attacks but the U.S. government’s effort to downplay and deny them.
Combining the pace of a thriller and the authority of rigorous investigative journalism, this book brings readers inside the lives of officers like “Adam” and “Poly,” whose careers and health were destroyed by the attacks, and Lt. Col. Greg Edgreen, the Pentagon investigator who risked everything to demand accountability. The Havana Syndrome is both a geopolitical saga with chilling consequences for national security and a deeply human story of betrayal and resilience.
For nearly a decade, U.S. diplomats, spies, and soldiers around the world have reported sudden, devastating neurological injuries—symptoms eerily consistent with exposure to a directed energy weapon. Victims were told their illnesses were “psychosomatic.” Government agencies dismissed the evidence. And the CIA insisted no adversary was behind it. As the cases grew, from Havana to Hanoi, the media dubbed the phenomenon “the Havana Syndrome.”
In this groundbreaking exposé, 60 Minutes producers Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados reveal the hidden history of the so-called Havana from early attacks in Cuba and China, to the spread across global hotspots from Tbilisi to Vienna, to the mounting evidence implicating an elite Russian “kill” unit. Drawing on more than nine years of reporting, including secret medical records, whistleblower testimony, and intelligence reports, they expose not only the technology behind the attacks but the U.S. government’s effort to downplay and deny them.
Combining the pace of a thriller and the authority of rigorous investigative journalism, this book brings readers inside the lives of officers like “Adam” and “Poly,” whose careers and health were destroyed by the attacks, and Lt. Col. Greg Edgreen, the Pentagon investigator who risked everything to demand accountability. The Havana Syndrome is both a geopolitical saga with chilling consequences for national security and a deeply human story of betrayal and resilience.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy
BS
October 26, 2026
Earlier this year, in Pilcher's "This Book May Cause Side Effects", she wrote:
"There is another explanation for Havana syndrome, but it is far less spicy and much less popular. The story recounted above is the version that persists in the archives of the world’s mass media and the collective consciousness of those who buy into it, but that doesn’t necessarily make it correct. Since the earliest days of Havana syndrome, there has been a carefully considered counternarrative that puts a different spin on the experiences of those affected. It has been proposed by those who have intimate knowledge of the many ways the mind and body interact. In this version of the story, there are no secret weapons, nor any hostile power hell-bent on disabling American diplomats. People do become ill and their symptoms are genuine, but they are caused by something quite different: a contagious variant of the nocebo effect that spreads from person to person. When ailments that lack a physical cause spread between people, it is known as mass psychogenic illness (MPI). Psychogenic refers to physical symptoms that are caused by the mind, and during bouts of MPI these symptoms spread like a virus. MPI, which is also known as mass sociogenic illness and mass hysteria, occurs when functional symptoms occur collectively at the community level."
I didn't have a hard opinion when I read Pilcher's book on this topic - after all I had heard of this and likely had listened to a few podcasts, but not an expert. But between Rey's book and the fact that our illustrious "President" boasted about using targeted beam weapons on the Maduro raid, I'm more likely to side with what has been presented here. Humans are terrible at keeping secrets so some doubt does remain as more details would have otherwise leaked by now. To the book itself, it's like a 9 hour version of a 60 Minutes profile instead of 12 minutes; it certainly gives ample time to tell background on all the different cases, but it was not per se a riveting or expertly written account. But still horrifying for the victims and families.
"There is another explanation for Havana syndrome, but it is far less spicy and much less popular. The story recounted above is the version that persists in the archives of the world’s mass media and the collective consciousness of those who buy into it, but that doesn’t necessarily make it correct. Since the earliest days of Havana syndrome, there has been a carefully considered counternarrative that puts a different spin on the experiences of those affected. It has been proposed by those who have intimate knowledge of the many ways the mind and body interact. In this version of the story, there are no secret weapons, nor any hostile power hell-bent on disabling American diplomats. People do become ill and their symptoms are genuine, but they are caused by something quite different: a contagious variant of the nocebo effect that spreads from person to person. When ailments that lack a physical cause spread between people, it is known as mass psychogenic illness (MPI). Psychogenic refers to physical symptoms that are caused by the mind, and during bouts of MPI these symptoms spread like a virus. MPI, which is also known as mass sociogenic illness and mass hysteria, occurs when functional symptoms occur collectively at the community level."
I didn't have a hard opinion when I read Pilcher's book on this topic - after all I had heard of this and likely had listened to a few podcasts, but not an expert. But between Rey's book and the fact that our illustrious "President" boasted about using targeted beam weapons on the Maduro raid, I'm more likely to side with what has been presented here. Humans are terrible at keeping secrets so some doubt does remain as more details would have otherwise leaked by now. To the book itself, it's like a 9 hour version of a 60 Minutes profile instead of 12 minutes; it certainly gives ample time to tell background on all the different cases, but it was not per se a riveting or expertly written account. But still horrifying for the victims and families.
October 20, 2026
This could be required reading in high school and university. Not because everyone needs to know about spy craft and the new cold (or not so cold) war, but because of this point the authors make at the outset: You can’t have democracy without journalism.
Reads almost like a fast-paced thriller, and leaves you with plenty to think about. Science, journalism, geopolitics, leadership and organizational failures, psychology, and possible future implications.
Reads almost like a fast-paced thriller, and leaves you with plenty to think about. Science, journalism, geopolitics, leadership and organizational failures, psychology, and possible future implications.
October 20, 2026
If even one fraction of this is true…
October 14, 2026
With thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advance copy of the ebook to review.
Like many others, I'd seen headlines and news clips about the mysterious cases affecting U.S. government personnel serving at embassies overseas, but I'd never dug very far into the story. This was a very well-researched and fascinating look into the Havana Syndrome cases, the effects on the employees who experienced the attacks, and the U.S. government response. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic or who enjoys real life thrillers, and I hope those affected by the incidents get the medical care they need.
Like many others, I'd seen headlines and news clips about the mysterious cases affecting U.S. government personnel serving at embassies overseas, but I'd never dug very far into the story. This was a very well-researched and fascinating look into the Havana Syndrome cases, the effects on the employees who experienced the attacks, and the U.S. government response. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic or who enjoys real life thrillers, and I hope those affected by the incidents get the medical care they need.
October 28, 2026
Riveting. Chilling. Best narrative non-fiction I've read in some time.
The book reflects nine years of investigative journalism conducted by two "60 Minutes" producers on the Havana Syndrome -- the neurological condition suffered by ~1500 state department and other high-ranking employees of the federal government after exposure to a Russian weapon.
Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, and the CIA would have you believe that. But I'm persuaded!
The book reflects nine years of investigative journalism conducted by two "60 Minutes" producers on the Havana Syndrome -- the neurological condition suffered by ~1500 state department and other high-ranking employees of the federal government after exposure to a Russian weapon.
Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, and the CIA would have you believe that. But I'm persuaded!
November 3, 2026
An absolutely incredible feat of journalism! Really well researched and presented. It’s disgusting to see yet another example of how poorly the government treats its people and citizens. This book offers a glimmer of hope and recognition that Havana Syndrome survivors are seen, heard, and believed
November 5, 2026
Absolutnie porazajace sledztwo dziennikarskie: o broni jak z sci-fi, o zamiataniu pod dywan i wadach amerykańskich instytucji,wreszcie o setkach ofiar,których życie zmieniło się w piekło. Napisane tak, że z ciężkim sercem odkłada się dalszą lekturę.
October 21, 2026
Wow. Scary. I didn't want to put this book down.
November 4, 2026
*****/5
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews