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The Spy Who Couldn't Spell: A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI's Hunt for America's Stolen Secrets
An alternate cover for ISBN 9781592409006 can be found here.
The thrilling, true-life account of the FBI’s hunt for the ingenious traitor Brian Regan—known as the Spy Who Couldn’t Spell.
Before Edward Snowden’s infamous data breach, the largest theft of government secrets was committed by an ingenious traitor whose intricate espionage scheme and complex system of coded messages were made even more baffling by his dyslexia. His name is Brian Regan, but he came to be known as The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell.
In December of 2000, FBI Special Agent Steven Carr of the bureau’s Washington, D.C., office received a package from FBI New York: a series of coded letters from an anonymous sender to the Libyan consulate, offering to sell classified United States intelligence. The offer, and the threat, were all too real. A self-proclaimed CIA analyst with top secret clearance had information about U.S. reconnaissance satellites, air defense systems, weapons depots, munitions factories, and underground bunkers throughout the Middle East.
Rooting out the traitor would not be easy, but certain clues suggested a government agent with a military background, a family, and a dire need for money. Leading a diligent team of investigators and code breakers, Carr spent years hunting down a dangerous spy and his cache of stolen secrets.
In this fast-paced true-life spy thriller, Yudhijit Bhattacharjee reveals how the FBI unraveled Regan’s strange web of codes to build a case against a man who nearly collapsed America's military security.
The thrilling, true-life account of the FBI’s hunt for the ingenious traitor Brian Regan—known as the Spy Who Couldn’t Spell.
Before Edward Snowden’s infamous data breach, the largest theft of government secrets was committed by an ingenious traitor whose intricate espionage scheme and complex system of coded messages were made even more baffling by his dyslexia. His name is Brian Regan, but he came to be known as The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell.
In December of 2000, FBI Special Agent Steven Carr of the bureau’s Washington, D.C., office received a package from FBI New York: a series of coded letters from an anonymous sender to the Libyan consulate, offering to sell classified United States intelligence. The offer, and the threat, were all too real. A self-proclaimed CIA analyst with top secret clearance had information about U.S. reconnaissance satellites, air defense systems, weapons depots, munitions factories, and underground bunkers throughout the Middle East.
Rooting out the traitor would not be easy, but certain clues suggested a government agent with a military background, a family, and a dire need for money. Leading a diligent team of investigators and code breakers, Carr spent years hunting down a dangerous spy and his cache of stolen secrets.
In this fast-paced true-life spy thriller, Yudhijit Bhattacharjee reveals how the FBI unraveled Regan’s strange web of codes to build a case against a man who nearly collapsed America's military security.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
149 people are currently reading
3068 people want to read
About the author
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee
5 books30 followersYudhijit Bhattacharjee is an award-winning writer whose features and essays on espionage, cybercrime, science and medicine have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, Wired and other U.S. magazines. Yudhijit spent 11 years as a staff writer at the weekly journal Science, writing about neuroscience, astronomy and a variety of other topics in research and science policy. His work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. Yudhijit has an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and a master’s in journalism from The Ohio State University. He lives in a suburb of Washington, D.C., with his wife, his two children and a big red dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
October 25, 2016
This is the story of Brian Regan, an ex-military man working for the NRO, who decided to sell classified information to Libya, Iraq, Iran, and China. It is also the story of the joint effort of the FBI, CIA, NRO, NSA, and various other agencies who assisted in the capture and conviction of Regan, as well as the retrieval of all of the classified information which had been taken.
This is a non-fiction story, but don't let that fool you into thinking it is going to be a dry telling of facts. This book read like a spy novel. It also reminded me of "Catch Me if You Can." It is riveting. It changes throughout the story to tell the story of Regan, and the story of the men and women tasked with catching him. It was riveting!
There is a lot of information given in this book that could be difficult to understand, but Mr. Bhattacharjee gave the hard stuff to the reader in small easy to understand sections. He didn't attempt to dump it all on the reader at once, which made it much easier to follow.
I highly recommend this book to fiction and nonfiction fans alike. Don't forget to read the acknowledgement at the end of the book. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking.
* I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and have given an honest review *
This is a non-fiction story, but don't let that fool you into thinking it is going to be a dry telling of facts. This book read like a spy novel. It also reminded me of "Catch Me if You Can." It is riveting. It changes throughout the story to tell the story of Regan, and the story of the men and women tasked with catching him. It was riveting!
There is a lot of information given in this book that could be difficult to understand, but Mr. Bhattacharjee gave the hard stuff to the reader in small easy to understand sections. He didn't attempt to dump it all on the reader at once, which made it much easier to follow.
I highly recommend this book to fiction and nonfiction fans alike. Don't forget to read the acknowledgement at the end of the book. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking.
* I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and have given an honest review *
December 8, 2016
This book should have been called Mr. 80% or The Spy Who Constantly Sabotaged Himself With His Own Ineptitude. This book detailed the life of a man who was constantly made fun of and considered stupid by his peers throughout his life so he tries to get himself out of debt and get back at everyone by stealing Top Secret information from the NRO and Interlink to sell to other countries. It does go into all the research he did on past spies and his gift for encryption and breaking codes which was really interesting. Unfortunately he kept making thoughtless mistakes like leaving the Internet browser with embassy locations up on a public computer (and not clearing the browsing history) when he thought he was being followed by the FBI and leaving sticky notes with his name on them on the info he wanted to sell to foreign governments when he wanted to remain anonymous. This case should have made the government look at how easy it was to steal top secret government info and fix the loopholes in their security to prevent it from happening in the future but of course this did not happen.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
February 7, 2017
I bought this book because of its cover! It is cleverly done even if I was not really aware of it when I bought it actually. I just thought that it was a beautiful, intriguing book cover. I will come to it later...
So it's a book about Brian Regan, better known as the spy who couldn't spell because of his dyslexia. It covers three aspects: the investigation, how American secret organisations work, and Regan's life and personality and especially his dyslexia which was overwhelming. He actually became his dyslexia because of his parents, teachers, schoolmates and later his colleagues. Dyslexia is not only about speech and writing, it's also about organizing things, making things and thinking on a daily basis. So a real challenge!
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee made a great job! It was fascinating! It is very well written: the three aspects are intermingled and so it's never boring. Even if we know Regan was arrested and condemned, we want to know how things happened. We are even torn between two feelings: wanting the FBI to catch Regan and decipher the codes and wanting Regan to be released (I was so sorry sometimes for him!). Chapters 3 and 4 are captivating because we dive into his life and character. I also liked reading about the codes.
So the cover: it represents one sheet of paper with codes written by Brian Regan. The title, the subtitle and the author's name are highlighted with felt-tip markers.
J'ai acheté ce livre à cause de sa couverture: j'étais intriguée et je la trouvais tout simplement belle, originale.
C'est l'histoire de Brian Regan condamné pour espionnage, il a été surnommé "l'espion qui ne savait pas écrire" à cause de sa dyslexie. Le livre couvre trois aspects: l'enquête, les organisations secrètes américaines et la vie et la personnalité de Brian Regan. Nous apprenons donc qu'il était dyslexique, que cette particularité va lui pourrir la vie. Ses parents, sa famille, ses profs, ses camarades de classe puis ses collègues le considèrent tout simplement comme attardé.
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee a fait un super travail: le livre est passionnant! C'est très bien écrit: les trois aspects s'entremêlent et on ne s'ennuie jamais. On connait la fin, on sait très bien que Regan a été arrêté et condamné mais on veut savoir comment les choses se sont déroulées. Et là où l'auteur est un génie, c'est qu'on se surprend à être partagé entre deux sentiments: vouloir que le FBI arrête Regan et décode ces documents et vouloir que Regan soit libéré. les chapitres 3 et 4 sont fascinants, nous plongeons dans la vie et le caractère de Regan. Les chapitres sur le décodage des documents sont aussi très intéressants!
La couverture: je me suis rendue compte au cours de ma lecture qu'il s'agissait d'un document codé par Regan! Le titre, le sous-titre et le nom de l'auteur sont surlignés au marqueur fluo, comme dans les dossiers à étudier!
So it's a book about Brian Regan, better known as the spy who couldn't spell because of his dyslexia. It covers three aspects: the investigation, how American secret organisations work, and Regan's life and personality and especially his dyslexia which was overwhelming. He actually became his dyslexia because of his parents, teachers, schoolmates and later his colleagues. Dyslexia is not only about speech and writing, it's also about organizing things, making things and thinking on a daily basis. So a real challenge!
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee made a great job! It was fascinating! It is very well written: the three aspects are intermingled and so it's never boring. Even if we know Regan was arrested and condemned, we want to know how things happened. We are even torn between two feelings: wanting the FBI to catch Regan and decipher the codes and wanting Regan to be released (I was so sorry sometimes for him!). Chapters 3 and 4 are captivating because we dive into his life and character. I also liked reading about the codes.
So the cover: it represents one sheet of paper with codes written by Brian Regan. The title, the subtitle and the author's name are highlighted with felt-tip markers.
J'ai acheté ce livre à cause de sa couverture: j'étais intriguée et je la trouvais tout simplement belle, originale.
C'est l'histoire de Brian Regan condamné pour espionnage, il a été surnommé "l'espion qui ne savait pas écrire" à cause de sa dyslexie. Le livre couvre trois aspects: l'enquête, les organisations secrètes américaines et la vie et la personnalité de Brian Regan. Nous apprenons donc qu'il était dyslexique, que cette particularité va lui pourrir la vie. Ses parents, sa famille, ses profs, ses camarades de classe puis ses collègues le considèrent tout simplement comme attardé.
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee a fait un super travail: le livre est passionnant! C'est très bien écrit: les trois aspects s'entremêlent et on ne s'ennuie jamais. On connait la fin, on sait très bien que Regan a été arrêté et condamné mais on veut savoir comment les choses se sont déroulées. Et là où l'auteur est un génie, c'est qu'on se surprend à être partagé entre deux sentiments: vouloir que le FBI arrête Regan et décode ces documents et vouloir que Regan soit libéré. les chapitres 3 et 4 sont fascinants, nous plongeons dans la vie et le caractère de Regan. Les chapitres sur le décodage des documents sont aussi très intéressants!
La couverture: je me suis rendue compte au cours de ma lecture qu'il s'agissait d'un document codé par Regan! Le titre, le sous-titre et le nom de l'auteur sont surlignés au marqueur fluo, comme dans les dossiers à étudier!
October 9, 2016
This is a very interesting book about an American spy, Brian Regan, who was known as the Spy Who Couldn’t Spell. Regan wasn’t the typical spy. Most people thought of him as not being very intelligent, mostly due to his dyslexia. But he was able to amass an amazingly large bulk of highly sensitive intelligence and turned out to be a brilliant cryptologist. Steven Carr is the dedicated FBI agent hot on his trail.
The book is written in a journalistic style and is very easy to read and understand. I found the spy hunt to be a fascinating one. I also enjoyed the author’s reconstruction of Regan’s childhood and upbringing in an effort to create an understanding of how a spy was born. Not quite as fascinating was the prosecution of Regan but it still kept me interested.
This is not written as a thriller but is more a methodic, years long hunt for a spy. It’s well written and I found it quite frightening to see how easy it was for Regan to accumulate America’s secrets and how willing he was to sell those secrets to our enemies. I felt much anger at Regan and his desire to betray his country for money and found nothing in his history to give me any sympathy for him. Congratulations to all those who brought this ignoble spy down.
This book was given to me by the publisher through First to Read in return for an honest review.
The book is written in a journalistic style and is very easy to read and understand. I found the spy hunt to be a fascinating one. I also enjoyed the author’s reconstruction of Regan’s childhood and upbringing in an effort to create an understanding of how a spy was born. Not quite as fascinating was the prosecution of Regan but it still kept me interested.
This is not written as a thriller but is more a methodic, years long hunt for a spy. It’s well written and I found it quite frightening to see how easy it was for Regan to accumulate America’s secrets and how willing he was to sell those secrets to our enemies. I felt much anger at Regan and his desire to betray his country for money and found nothing in his history to give me any sympathy for him. Congratulations to all those who brought this ignoble spy down.
This book was given to me by the publisher through First to Read in return for an honest review.
March 31, 2020
4 Stars for The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell (audiobook) by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee read by Robert Fass. This was an interesting story. I especially liked some of the details about dyslexia. Who knew a bad speller could get in so much trouble. The narration was fine too.
January 2, 2017
audiobook that tells the story of a disgruntled U.S. Air Force intelligence analyst who used his cipher skills to almost pull off an incredible intelligence theft and attempted sale of classified documents. The author discusses the spy’s background and details the tedious work of the FBI in tracking him down. It was an intelligence agency’s nightmare: having a mole in your own agency.
The FBI received a package containing several letters in a sophisticated cipher but when deciphered were marked by numerous misspellings. Those errors proved to be Brian Regan’s undoing. The FBI agent who doggedly pursued him was Steven Carr, and the methods used to track him are straight out of the best espionage/police procedural novels. Regan was a retired Air Force Master Sergeant whose dyslexia and ineptitude with social skills made him an almost perfect spy and he was viewed as the least likely person to be involved in such a scheme. One of eight children, he had been bullied and mistreated most of his childhood, considered stupid by most of his teachers because of his dyslexia. Steven Carr, his FBI antagonist, was a devout Catholic who considered his mission to track down Regan as a spiritual assignment.
Once they had identified their suspect, the FBI had to build a case, and here another of the ironies appeared. The agent who broke Regan’s ciphers had a disability himself, one that prevented him from doing arithmetic functions and math, a form of dyscalculia. He was really good at word problems but doing straight arithmetic and polynomial functions was very difficult. He was superb, however at pattern recognition and was discovered while taking a class from a postal inspector who told the clasExcellents to ignore some codes because they are insoluble. He took it as a challenge and deciphered the codes during class. First, though, to get into the FBI he had to get a college degree and it was only with the help of a very understanding math instructor (probably at a community college) that he managed to pass the math requirement.
Something I have emphasized over and over to my friends is to never, ever, ever, put anything into a digital document or email you don’t want the world to see. In spite of Regan’s having formatted his HD and deleted documents, they were, of course, all recoverable, including multiple versions of letters he had written. (The only way to truly protect yourself -- short of using a hammer to smash and fire to melt -- is to use a program that writes over your HD with multiple passes using gibberish.)
I love books about codes and ciphers so I liked the sections where Bhattacharjee discusses Regan’s system in some detail. Others may prefer the human aspects of the characters. For me it was a perfect mix and a very enjoyable book, difficult to put down. What was astonishing was how easy it was for Regan to steal highly classified material. Then again government has a tendency to over-classify material which perhaps leads people to be careless with the stuff. That he was discovered at all was a fluke, and the letters deciphered only because the letters happened to be delivered at the same time.
Riveting.
The FBI received a package containing several letters in a sophisticated cipher but when deciphered were marked by numerous misspellings. Those errors proved to be Brian Regan’s undoing. The FBI agent who doggedly pursued him was Steven Carr, and the methods used to track him are straight out of the best espionage/police procedural novels. Regan was a retired Air Force Master Sergeant whose dyslexia and ineptitude with social skills made him an almost perfect spy and he was viewed as the least likely person to be involved in such a scheme. One of eight children, he had been bullied and mistreated most of his childhood, considered stupid by most of his teachers because of his dyslexia. Steven Carr, his FBI antagonist, was a devout Catholic who considered his mission to track down Regan as a spiritual assignment.
Once they had identified their suspect, the FBI had to build a case, and here another of the ironies appeared. The agent who broke Regan’s ciphers had a disability himself, one that prevented him from doing arithmetic functions and math, a form of dyscalculia. He was really good at word problems but doing straight arithmetic and polynomial functions was very difficult. He was superb, however at pattern recognition and was discovered while taking a class from a postal inspector who told the clasExcellents to ignore some codes because they are insoluble. He took it as a challenge and deciphered the codes during class. First, though, to get into the FBI he had to get a college degree and it was only with the help of a very understanding math instructor (probably at a community college) that he managed to pass the math requirement.
Something I have emphasized over and over to my friends is to never, ever, ever, put anything into a digital document or email you don’t want the world to see. In spite of Regan’s having formatted his HD and deleted documents, they were, of course, all recoverable, including multiple versions of letters he had written. (The only way to truly protect yourself -- short of using a hammer to smash and fire to melt -- is to use a program that writes over your HD with multiple passes using gibberish.)
I love books about codes and ciphers so I liked the sections where Bhattacharjee discusses Regan’s system in some detail. Others may prefer the human aspects of the characters. For me it was a perfect mix and a very enjoyable book, difficult to put down. What was astonishing was how easy it was for Regan to steal highly classified material. Then again government has a tendency to over-classify material which perhaps leads people to be careless with the stuff. That he was discovered at all was a fluke, and the letters deciphered only because the letters happened to be delivered at the same time.
Riveting.
January 5, 2017
Redundant. It was researched in massive detail but poorly assembled, IMHO. Far more detail of excess information about the perp's character and personality, his pure greed- than about the whys of the incompetence of the FBI to unearth this kind of insider duplicity.
The story needed better editing for the sharp continuity of the traitor's escalating progressions.
This was an event type and a report for this perp that went quite under the radar for that 9/11 era. As opposed to 2015 or 2016 when leaking state secrets, tech- all kinds of informational materials in high USA governmental (FBI, CIA, State Dept.) have become common place incompetence displayed. And when caught or positioned with grave questions of obvious leakage, extremely little consequence.
Seems to me, that the FBI especially, is far, far behind the times for skill sets. Frankly, I'm skeptical about most any "sure" information that they attest is one way known or in declaration of director in "truth". There are too many long term bureaucracy types in situational permanence to politico loyalties and agendas and the evidence is clear that the result of those associations have reversed reports. Up is often down, and vice versa. After the first facts of declaration. It's happened over and over. Not just redefining terms but situational "reality" in media reports.
This case was interesting but this particular culprit self-defeating. I'm not so sure I believe he was all that to begin with. And the style of the telling lacks. Especially in logical time and continuance progressions.
The story needed better editing for the sharp continuity of the traitor's escalating progressions.
This was an event type and a report for this perp that went quite under the radar for that 9/11 era. As opposed to 2015 or 2016 when leaking state secrets, tech- all kinds of informational materials in high USA governmental (FBI, CIA, State Dept.) have become common place incompetence displayed. And when caught or positioned with grave questions of obvious leakage, extremely little consequence.
Seems to me, that the FBI especially, is far, far behind the times for skill sets. Frankly, I'm skeptical about most any "sure" information that they attest is one way known or in declaration of director in "truth". There are too many long term bureaucracy types in situational permanence to politico loyalties and agendas and the evidence is clear that the result of those associations have reversed reports. Up is often down, and vice versa. After the first facts of declaration. It's happened over and over. Not just redefining terms but situational "reality" in media reports.
This case was interesting but this particular culprit self-defeating. I'm not so sure I believe he was all that to begin with. And the style of the telling lacks. Especially in logical time and continuance progressions.
February 21, 2017
What a journey into the labyrinth of the NSA, NRO, the CIA , the FBI. The story of a loner, a lone wolf with the aid of technology was able to pull one of the largest solo operations in The history of modern espionage. It sucked that he couldn't spell...
October 5, 2016
The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell is a chronicle of the case of Brian Regan, a government employee who attempted to sell top secret information to other countries. Regan, who had run up thousands of dollars in credit card debt, had stolen over 800 pages of top secret classified information from various branches including the CIA and the U.S. Military. With a strong background in cryptology, Regan encoded all of his communications and was successful enough in his anonymity that when the FBI received one of his packages from a source, a massive manhunt was conducted throughout the FBI, CIA, NSA and NRO to ascertain the leak of information. However the one thing that eventually led to Regan was the one thing he couldn’t plan for, his dyslexia.
Author Yudhijit Bhattacharjee does a fantastic job of documenting this interesting case in a straightforward and highly readable way. Told from both the point of view of the FBI agents investigating it and Brian Regan, it reads like a real life spy hunt with all of its complexities, dead ends and unknowns. Bhattacharjee also provides an interesting history of the older cryptology that influenced Regan and then breaks down Regan’s highly complex code in laymen’s terms. A quick and enjoyably informative read.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Penguin Random House through their First To Read Program in exchange for an honest review.
Author Yudhijit Bhattacharjee does a fantastic job of documenting this interesting case in a straightforward and highly readable way. Told from both the point of view of the FBI agents investigating it and Brian Regan, it reads like a real life spy hunt with all of its complexities, dead ends and unknowns. Bhattacharjee also provides an interesting history of the older cryptology that influenced Regan and then breaks down Regan’s highly complex code in laymen’s terms. A quick and enjoyably informative read.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Penguin Random House through their First To Read Program in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2017
This read like a great spy novel/movie except it was true. In those parts where I was shaking my head thinking this is too unbelievable I was quickly reminded this happened. This takes you into the world of a man who spent his life feeling he had to prove his intelligence, so once he felt his life sinking, he decided to save himself by concocting a plot you'd only see in a spy movie.
Unlike fiction you actually get to see the true process the FBI has to go through when they suspect a traitor amongst them. And the history bits about codes, and the puzzle solving were really interesting.
I recommend to both fiction/non-fiction readers--especially spy lovers, and anyone looking for a mystery without violence.
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: Calling Veronica Mars Fans, Marcia Clark's New Series, And More Mystery/Thrillers
Unlike fiction you actually get to see the true process the FBI has to go through when they suspect a traitor amongst them. And the history bits about codes, and the puzzle solving were really interesting.
I recommend to both fiction/non-fiction readers--especially spy lovers, and anyone looking for a mystery without violence.
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: Calling Veronica Mars Fans, Marcia Clark's New Series, And More Mystery/Thrillers
September 13, 2024
True story of a dyslexic attempted espionage. It takes a lot for me to get hooked by a non-fiction book, but this one managed it. Very fascinating story and a good mental workout for code breaking.
July 25, 2025
Absolutely fascinating. If you're looking for books that represent individuals with disabilities as a role model, this might NOT be the one to choose, but still a great read. 😂
December 19, 2016
Somehow I wanted this book to be more sympathetic to Regan. It just seemed overly one-sided and I'm old enough to know that nothing is that simple, especially in criminal proceedings.
November 2, 2016
I received this book through Penguin's First to Read program.
Never thought I would be so interested in such spy story. The difference is that it's a real story that happened so recently. It might scare you just the thought that there are people who might initiate a new war just because they need more money to support their lifestyles. Really makes you think more about the consumerism culture we are encouraging. And what makes this book a very interesting read is that you are filled in with various interesting details about cryptology history, people's backgrounds, who were working on the case, even main antagonist's life was depicted from objective point of view.
Never thought I would be so interested in such spy story. The difference is that it's a real story that happened so recently. It might scare you just the thought that there are people who might initiate a new war just because they need more money to support their lifestyles. Really makes you think more about the consumerism culture we are encouraging. And what makes this book a very interesting read is that you are filled in with various interesting details about cryptology history, people's backgrounds, who were working on the case, even main antagonist's life was depicted from objective point of view.
March 31, 2022
I always enjoy a good espionage tale, be it fictional or, as it this case, a true story. This particular case of Brian Regan was one I wasn't yet familiar with, and it's definitely one for the "you couldn't make this shit up category". An engaging and very interesting read.
March 18, 2021
A terrific (and incredibly detailed) book about the investigation and capture of traitorous Air Force sergeant Brian Regan, who sought to turn over U.S. intelligence to a variety of hostile foreign governments. Along the way, we also learn about dyslexia, ciphers, and some obscure spy agencies.
August 7, 2019
Fascinating.....
November 25, 2025
Not only is this guy an utter buffoon, he is also a shameless philanderer - a deadly combo.
March 24, 2023
Well researched investigation of how the FBI compiled its case against a traitor. I hope the same energy goes into investigating Trump's theft of top security documents. If guilty, the punishment should be same irregardless of past employments or cult status. Fascinating read.
May 30, 2018
You might be amazed at the number of Americans who have been convicted of spying against the United States over the past century. I certainly was. Wikipedia catalogs a total of 67. Nearly half that number (32) had committed espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union. Another five spied for Russia, including former CIA officer Aldrich Ames and former FBI agent Robert Hanssen. But when Americans think about treason, the names that are most likely to surface are Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. Of course, Snowden was never tried for any offense, and Manning was convicted of violating the Espionage Act by sharing classified and sensitive documents with WikiLeaks, not with any foreign power.
The name Brian Patrick Regan is little remembered. Yet just after the turn of this century Regan "pulled off the biggest heist of classified information in the annals of American espionage" before Edward Snowden. He was "the first spy to exploit digital access to American defense secrets on a massive scale." Regan's theft of documents in 1999-2001 from the CIA, NSA, and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), his employers, represented a bigger threat to American security than anything that had occurred in the 20th century. (Some might argue that the theft of atomic secrets in the 1940s was more serious, but the Americans convicted of espionage for that crime were minor players compared to German physicist Klaus Fuchs, who was tried and convicted in Britain, not the US.) Journalist Yudhijit Bhattacharjee tells Regan's amazing story in a spellbinding book, The Spy Who Couldn't Spell: A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI's Hunt for America's Stolen Secrets.
Technically, Regan was convicted of attempted espionage, because he never succeeded in transferring any secret documents to the three countries he hoped would enrich him: Libya, Iraq, and China. He had downloaded and printed thousands of pages of documents and stolen top secret training videos. He had also pilfered a guide to all US surveillance satellites that alone could have compromised American security for decades. As Bhattacharjee so deftly illustrates, Regan failed to score the millions of dollars he sought because he simply wasn't as smart as he thought he was.
The Spy Who Couldn't Spell is a blow-by-blow description of the frustrating and protracted investigation spearheaded by the FBI. The author enlivens his tale with colorful detail, not just from Regan's life but from that of several of the investigators at the FBI, the NSA, and the NRO. Ultimately, the key to their success was the elaborate cryptographic system Regan developed to hide his activities—a system that was so convoluted that Regan himself couldn't remember how to decode critical portions of it. Bhattacharjee relates the finely detailed technical work that lay at the center of the investigation, and he does so in a lively manner. The book reads much like a novel.
The FBI's talent, dedication, and elbow grease notwithstanding, Regan was caught because the government got lucky. In his first effort to approach a foreign government, he had naively mailed several documents and a coded cover letter to the Libyan Embassy. An FBI informer snagged the package there and forwarded it to the Bureau. Otherwise, Regan's scheme might well have gone undetected. He later made other big mistakes. But it's highly unlikely the FBI would have become aware of them. That package intended for Muammar Gadaffi was his undoing.
The name Brian Patrick Regan is little remembered. Yet just after the turn of this century Regan "pulled off the biggest heist of classified information in the annals of American espionage" before Edward Snowden. He was "the first spy to exploit digital access to American defense secrets on a massive scale." Regan's theft of documents in 1999-2001 from the CIA, NSA, and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), his employers, represented a bigger threat to American security than anything that had occurred in the 20th century. (Some might argue that the theft of atomic secrets in the 1940s was more serious, but the Americans convicted of espionage for that crime were minor players compared to German physicist Klaus Fuchs, who was tried and convicted in Britain, not the US.) Journalist Yudhijit Bhattacharjee tells Regan's amazing story in a spellbinding book, The Spy Who Couldn't Spell: A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI's Hunt for America's Stolen Secrets.
Technically, Regan was convicted of attempted espionage, because he never succeeded in transferring any secret documents to the three countries he hoped would enrich him: Libya, Iraq, and China. He had downloaded and printed thousands of pages of documents and stolen top secret training videos. He had also pilfered a guide to all US surveillance satellites that alone could have compromised American security for decades. As Bhattacharjee so deftly illustrates, Regan failed to score the millions of dollars he sought because he simply wasn't as smart as he thought he was.
The Spy Who Couldn't Spell is a blow-by-blow description of the frustrating and protracted investigation spearheaded by the FBI. The author enlivens his tale with colorful detail, not just from Regan's life but from that of several of the investigators at the FBI, the NSA, and the NRO. Ultimately, the key to their success was the elaborate cryptographic system Regan developed to hide his activities—a system that was so convoluted that Regan himself couldn't remember how to decode critical portions of it. Bhattacharjee relates the finely detailed technical work that lay at the center of the investigation, and he does so in a lively manner. The book reads much like a novel.
The FBI's talent, dedication, and elbow grease notwithstanding, Regan was caught because the government got lucky. In his first effort to approach a foreign government, he had naively mailed several documents and a coded cover letter to the Libyan Embassy. An FBI informer snagged the package there and forwarded it to the Bureau. Otherwise, Regan's scheme might well have gone undetected. He later made other big mistakes. But it's highly unlikely the FBI would have become aware of them. That package intended for Muammar Gadaffi was his undoing.
February 4, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways.
A very engaging account of the FBI’s hunt for stolen government secrets. The thief, Brian Regan, was working with “Top Secret” clearance at the NRO (a US intelligence-gathering agency so secretive and shadowy, the American public did not know of its existence for decades) when he decided to sell classified intelligence to Libya, Iraq, Iran, and China: an act of treason that could have had a devastating and deadly impact on American military and compromised the security of the US itself.
Bad as that was, his reasoning behind the crime he was committing was also misguided; unlike some spies who were motivated to become moles in the first place because of political or nebulous moral issue against the US, Regan was doing it solely for money.
So why do I still feel sorry for this traitor? Perhaps it’s the underdog against The Man aspect of the book; perhaps it’s Regan’s unhappy childhood: the bullies, the abusive alcoholic father, the humiliations he suffered due to dyslexia (the stigma following him well into adulthood where coworkers brushed him off as stupid and slow) and his own efforts even as a child to compensate for the disorder; perhaps it’s his own lawyers’ decision to ironically use his learning disability as a defense during his trial: telling the jury their client is too stupid to possibly pull off a sophisticated and difficult espionage; perhaps it’s the harsh sentence in the end.
Lastly, I recommend that people read the “Acknowledgments” section of this book; typically this part is just a whole bunch of names where authors thank everybody and their momma; it’s almost like actors when they win an Academy Award: they go up on stage, then subsequently go on and on and on about every person they’ve ever known since the day they were born. Anyway this is not that. We learn in this section the tragic yet inspiring fate of the lead investigator in the case against the spy who couldn’t spell.
A very engaging account of the FBI’s hunt for stolen government secrets. The thief, Brian Regan, was working with “Top Secret” clearance at the NRO (a US intelligence-gathering agency so secretive and shadowy, the American public did not know of its existence for decades) when he decided to sell classified intelligence to Libya, Iraq, Iran, and China: an act of treason that could have had a devastating and deadly impact on American military and compromised the security of the US itself.
Bad as that was, his reasoning behind the crime he was committing was also misguided; unlike some spies who were motivated to become moles in the first place because of political or nebulous moral issue against the US, Regan was doing it solely for money.
So why do I still feel sorry for this traitor? Perhaps it’s the underdog against The Man aspect of the book; perhaps it’s Regan’s unhappy childhood: the bullies, the abusive alcoholic father, the humiliations he suffered due to dyslexia (the stigma following him well into adulthood where coworkers brushed him off as stupid and slow) and his own efforts even as a child to compensate for the disorder; perhaps it’s his own lawyers’ decision to ironically use his learning disability as a defense during his trial: telling the jury their client is too stupid to possibly pull off a sophisticated and difficult espionage; perhaps it’s the harsh sentence in the end.
Lastly, I recommend that people read the “Acknowledgments” section of this book; typically this part is just a whole bunch of names where authors thank everybody and their momma; it’s almost like actors when they win an Academy Award: they go up on stage, then subsequently go on and on and on about every person they’ve ever known since the day they were born. Anyway this is not that. We learn in this section the tragic yet inspiring fate of the lead investigator in the case against the spy who couldn’t spell.
May 21, 2023
Someone recommended this book to me. The topic was of interest, but I'm always so leery of non-fiction. It can read so dry. So I was thrilled to find this book a veritable page turner! This book was well written, well organized, and provided a clear summation of events. It was the perfect length. And the topic is fascinating.
I have heard of the Brian Regan case. I knew that he was caught trying to sell classified secrets and was arrested. I didn't know too many more details than that.
Regan grew up in a large family with a low income in Long Island. He had to fight for his share of food and space. He also had dyslexia which at that time wasn't as widely known much less treated. Most people thought he was stupid or slow. But he found his way out of his small town by joining the military (and cheating off the test of the guy in front of him) allowing him to be placed in a division he most likely wouldn't have qualified for.
His military career was quite successful. He was good at his job and he met a woman from Sweden. They got married and eventually had four children. But by the time his 20 years was approaching, he had been assigned to Washington DC. The cost of living was higher and he and his wife seemed to have no concept of a budget or living within their means. Their credit card bills were out of control. He suggested bankruptcy to his wife and he adamantly refused (due to the social implications). He tried gambling and the stock market but he wasn't successful there. He decided that selling the country's secrets was the only sure fire way of making quick money.
He was assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) where he began compiling information from Intelink and printing off thousands of pages of data. In addition he began copying training videos. His co-workers didn't think too highly of him, so most didn't pay him any attention. No one noticed a thing. He ended up retiring from the military (and leaving the NRO) and while interviewed at other companies, he set his plan in motion.
Regan composed very detailed, very complicated letters (and you needed all three letters to have it all make sense) and sent them to a few countries. Fortunately for the US, the letters written to Libya found their way to the FBI. Steven Carr picked them up and immediately understood the severity of the situation. He also noticed that the letters contained quite a few spelling errors.
Teams assembled and analysis was done to determine who this person is. Based on some of the intel provided, it was narrowed down to a few agencies (I think CIA, NSA, and NRO). From other clues in the letter they could narrow the possible candidates down and the arduous task of weeding through personnel files began. After some time, a file bubbled its way to the top of the stack. The person met all the criteria from the clues, and was a notoriously bad speller. His name was Brian Regan and he had been working at the NRO.
The FBI began surveillance on Regan and they soon were convinced they had the right guy. But now they needed evidence to prove it. A calculated decision was made by the NRO to grant his clearance to a company who had hired Regan, with the plan to watch his every move at work to catch him stealing secrets. Cameras were set up in his office and his computer's key stroke was imaged so they could follow his path online. He immediately began his searches on intelink, looking for similar data as before. Still there wasn't anything 100% incriminating. But he told his boss he was taking a vacation to Orlando with his family, but booked tickets to Europe. The FBI knew they were out of time.
They had to get special approval to arrest him, and they were concerned they wouldn't get it in time. They convinced the airline to bump him to a later flight (with an upgrade). Regan was on his way to his gate and had boarded one of Dulles's People Movers when the FBI knew they couldn't wait anymore. They approached him and took him to a room set aside in the airport. They were able to talk to him a bit before the official word to arrest him was granted.
Regan's house was combed through and laptops taken. There was enough incriminating evidence found to have a clear case that he intended espionage. (To include the letters he wrote to the other countries stating he was willing to commit espionage, for a payout of 13 million dollars). But the actual classified secrets were no where to be found.
Instead, Regan had a ton of notes and codes on him. And had sent codes to the other countries. From day 1, the FBI had been working to break the code. And while they were successful with some of it, they couldn't figure out Regan's complicated code. The US wanted their intel back and were willing to offer a plea deal of 15 (I think) years in jail if he revealed where everything was. Regan basically counter offered, essentially blackmailing the US Gov saying if they wanted their secrets, they had to make it worth it to him. The US Gov understood that was a horrible precedent to set, so instead the offer was removed and trial went forward with the death penalty on the table.
The trial was set up so the jury could see the classified data referenced as part of the trial, but the court could not. Regan was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. He finally realized how badly he had messed up and overestimated his chances. He cooperated with authorities to help them break his code (he had a code breaker buried at a mile marker that would identify the locations of the Virginia 'drop' sites). They were able to collect the Virginia documents rather quickly (except for one that had it's numbers mixed up. But eventually was figured out and found).
The Maryland site was a bit more complicated. The FBI followed the directions from the code, found the trees with the nails hammered in them, but still couldn't find the intel. When they went to Regan they learned he had also forgotten his code. They ended up taking him out of prison and going to the locations. He finally remembered that he used a second tree as a marker point, and that did the trick. Eventually all the data was recovered.
Regan proved how easy it was for him to access and obtain classified information. What he couldn't figure out was how to sell it. He had no idea how to approach another country to communicate hew as willing to sell them secrets. He took overly complicated measures to protect himself and the secrets, yet then made really obvious mistakes that gave himself away. Regan's motives were purely driven by money. He was in financial distress and couldn't see a way out. Instead of asking for help, he kept trying to figure it out for himself. He didn't actually want to hurt the US, it's military, or it's people. He just wanted a way to make a lot of money fast.
This was a really interesting book and a good insight into the mind/motives of a would-be spy.
I have heard of the Brian Regan case. I knew that he was caught trying to sell classified secrets and was arrested. I didn't know too many more details than that.
Regan grew up in a large family with a low income in Long Island. He had to fight for his share of food and space. He also had dyslexia which at that time wasn't as widely known much less treated. Most people thought he was stupid or slow. But he found his way out of his small town by joining the military (and cheating off the test of the guy in front of him) allowing him to be placed in a division he most likely wouldn't have qualified for.
His military career was quite successful. He was good at his job and he met a woman from Sweden. They got married and eventually had four children. But by the time his 20 years was approaching, he had been assigned to Washington DC. The cost of living was higher and he and his wife seemed to have no concept of a budget or living within their means. Their credit card bills were out of control. He suggested bankruptcy to his wife and he adamantly refused (due to the social implications). He tried gambling and the stock market but he wasn't successful there. He decided that selling the country's secrets was the only sure fire way of making quick money.
He was assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) where he began compiling information from Intelink and printing off thousands of pages of data. In addition he began copying training videos. His co-workers didn't think too highly of him, so most didn't pay him any attention. No one noticed a thing. He ended up retiring from the military (and leaving the NRO) and while interviewed at other companies, he set his plan in motion.
Regan composed very detailed, very complicated letters (and you needed all three letters to have it all make sense) and sent them to a few countries. Fortunately for the US, the letters written to Libya found their way to the FBI. Steven Carr picked them up and immediately understood the severity of the situation. He also noticed that the letters contained quite a few spelling errors.
Teams assembled and analysis was done to determine who this person is. Based on some of the intel provided, it was narrowed down to a few agencies (I think CIA, NSA, and NRO). From other clues in the letter they could narrow the possible candidates down and the arduous task of weeding through personnel files began. After some time, a file bubbled its way to the top of the stack. The person met all the criteria from the clues, and was a notoriously bad speller. His name was Brian Regan and he had been working at the NRO.
The FBI began surveillance on Regan and they soon were convinced they had the right guy. But now they needed evidence to prove it. A calculated decision was made by the NRO to grant his clearance to a company who had hired Regan, with the plan to watch his every move at work to catch him stealing secrets. Cameras were set up in his office and his computer's key stroke was imaged so they could follow his path online. He immediately began his searches on intelink, looking for similar data as before. Still there wasn't anything 100% incriminating. But he told his boss he was taking a vacation to Orlando with his family, but booked tickets to Europe. The FBI knew they were out of time.
They had to get special approval to arrest him, and they were concerned they wouldn't get it in time. They convinced the airline to bump him to a later flight (with an upgrade). Regan was on his way to his gate and had boarded one of Dulles's People Movers when the FBI knew they couldn't wait anymore. They approached him and took him to a room set aside in the airport. They were able to talk to him a bit before the official word to arrest him was granted.
Regan's house was combed through and laptops taken. There was enough incriminating evidence found to have a clear case that he intended espionage. (To include the letters he wrote to the other countries stating he was willing to commit espionage, for a payout of 13 million dollars). But the actual classified secrets were no where to be found.
Instead, Regan had a ton of notes and codes on him. And had sent codes to the other countries. From day 1, the FBI had been working to break the code. And while they were successful with some of it, they couldn't figure out Regan's complicated code. The US wanted their intel back and were willing to offer a plea deal of 15 (I think) years in jail if he revealed where everything was. Regan basically counter offered, essentially blackmailing the US Gov saying if they wanted their secrets, they had to make it worth it to him. The US Gov understood that was a horrible precedent to set, so instead the offer was removed and trial went forward with the death penalty on the table.
The trial was set up so the jury could see the classified data referenced as part of the trial, but the court could not. Regan was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. He finally realized how badly he had messed up and overestimated his chances. He cooperated with authorities to help them break his code (he had a code breaker buried at a mile marker that would identify the locations of the Virginia 'drop' sites). They were able to collect the Virginia documents rather quickly (except for one that had it's numbers mixed up. But eventually was figured out and found).
The Maryland site was a bit more complicated. The FBI followed the directions from the code, found the trees with the nails hammered in them, but still couldn't find the intel. When they went to Regan they learned he had also forgotten his code. They ended up taking him out of prison and going to the locations. He finally remembered that he used a second tree as a marker point, and that did the trick. Eventually all the data was recovered.
Regan proved how easy it was for him to access and obtain classified information. What he couldn't figure out was how to sell it. He had no idea how to approach another country to communicate hew as willing to sell them secrets. He took overly complicated measures to protect himself and the secrets, yet then made really obvious mistakes that gave himself away. Regan's motives were purely driven by money. He was in financial distress and couldn't see a way out. Instead of asking for help, he kept trying to figure it out for himself. He didn't actually want to hurt the US, it's military, or it's people. He just wanted a way to make a lot of money fast.
This was a really interesting book and a good insight into the mind/motives of a would-be spy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2017
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
This book was easy to read without going into a lot of details about anything. Given the subject matter the book deals with - espionage - it makes sense that Bhattacharjee would err on the side of caution and only write superficially about the most interesting bits of the story.
However, the lack of details or in-depth analysis meant I felt very detached from what should be an exciting story. I'm still not quite sure if Bhattacharjee was able to interview Regan and tell the story from his POV, or if most of the book relied on case files and impressions of people around Regan. This meant that I was never as invested in any of the people in this story as I wanted to be and there was no in-depth discussion of either cryptology, the history of espionage, or an analysis of what would drive people like Regan to betray their country (aside from needing money and wanting to prove that he could).
The book had the potential to be a wild ride with lots of opportunities to educate the public on cryptology, the social-political environment around 9/11, and even just what would drive someone to betray their country, but unfortunately the story fell short of it for me.
This book was easy to read without going into a lot of details about anything. Given the subject matter the book deals with - espionage - it makes sense that Bhattacharjee would err on the side of caution and only write superficially about the most interesting bits of the story.
However, the lack of details or in-depth analysis meant I felt very detached from what should be an exciting story. I'm still not quite sure if Bhattacharjee was able to interview Regan and tell the story from his POV, or if most of the book relied on case files and impressions of people around Regan. This meant that I was never as invested in any of the people in this story as I wanted to be and there was no in-depth discussion of either cryptology, the history of espionage, or an analysis of what would drive people like Regan to betray their country (aside from needing money and wanting to prove that he could).
The book had the potential to be a wild ride with lots of opportunities to educate the public on cryptology, the social-political environment around 9/11, and even just what would drive someone to betray their country, but unfortunately the story fell short of it for me.
November 6, 2016
An overly detailed description of how the FBI caught Brian Regan, an NRO employee/contractor who attempted to sell US secrets to Libya, Iraq, and China circa 2000. It's well written and explains Regan's motivations (primarily to get money to pay down his credit card debt). Despite their successful prosecution of Mr. Regan, I'm left with the impression that US counterintelligence is incompetent and the US intelligence community has no effective safeguards against the insider threat.
November 8, 2019
This was a fascinating book. I enjoyed the insight into the investigation process the most. It was interesting to see the way the security agencies worked, and some of the personnel involved were impressive. I also liked that the book was told in a narrative style, making it feel less like a history lesson and more like a story. There was too much time spent on certain topics and the writing was a bit loose, but it was still a worthwhile read.
March 23, 2022
Really enjoyed this. I've read a lot of spy nonfiction but I think it's been exclusively set in WWII or the cold war, so a more contemporary spy story was fun. It was also interesting to learn about how the courts handle cases involving classified information.
October 1, 2024
Very interesting read. Lots of insight into the intelligence community and cryptography.
August 16, 2020
This was the first book in awhile that I read in - probably - only 7 days.
It's intriguing to read about an ordeal that played out like a spy thriller written for the big screen; that was not one bit fictional.
The antagonist, Brian Regan, is someone for whom my sympathy and antipathy vacillated throughout the book.
I always enjoy analyzing human psychology as it's the essence of every driving force in the world, whether at a macro or micro level of observation. Being granted insight into Regan's challenging childhood and adolescence was - as expected - very revealing. The bullying and and demeaning comments directed at him in academic settings due to his dyslexia and the resultant scars that racked his psyche and self-esteem, will come to play a big part in his ill-informed choices.
It's difficult not to sympathize with a guy whose childhood was mostly marred by a sense of inferiority and an abrasive and unaccommodating world.
Like any of us trying to outrun or conquer the demons of our formative years, Regan seeks to leave behind his childhood environment physically, intellectually, and socially by joining the Air Force.
His purpose and confidence are buoyed by his newfound stature in the World; he no longer appears as dull-witted, he is serving a higher purpose than himself, and he is freed from the callousness of those with whom he came of age.
The midway portion of the book is mainly ordinary for someone in Regan's circumstances; he begins a family with a Swede, elevates himself through a few positions within the intelligence community, settles down in the metropolitan DC area, and loses a substantial portion of his life to being stuck in traffic.
Nonetheless, his shortcomings endure; his colleagues still profile him as an aloof oaf who appears under socialized and therefore isolates himself from the camaraderie enjoyed by everyone else.
We're also reminded of Regan's dyslexia and consequent idiosyncrasies as the author reveals his reliance on excessively detailed and mundane lists he makes to manage his life by: packing lists for travel, how to commute to work with public transportation, how to succeed at routine tasks, etc.
While Regan's life appears fairly run-of-the-mill, his wife and he are accumulating vast amounts of credit card debt. Sensing his problems will only worsen due to now having 4 children, and an only slightly higher salary once he retires from the military and joins a private intelligence company, Regan settles on what he believes to be his only feasible avenue out of financial distress; committing espionage against the United States.
At this point, it seems fair to infer that Regan's ego, insecurity, resentment of his childhood, and delusions of grandeur supersede any sensibility or rationality.
He could have consulted any number of resources to dig his way out of what seemed a insurmountable challenge, yet, he chose not to.
And thus begins his endeavor to steal some of the most highly guarded secrets maintained by the US intelligence community; in doing so, he hopes to collect over $13 million. In Regan's mind, this is a just price for his years of service to his country and lacking financial compensation for such efforts.
One doesn't need to look too far between the lines to grasp that for him, this effort is also an opportunity to conclusively prove his intelligence to himself by outsmarting some of the most astute people within the US government.
I'll wrap up my review here as I don't want to delve into spoiler territory.
Suffice it to say, this was a very enjoyable read on multiple fronts; it was:
- Educational: I came away with an enhanced understanding the the National Reconnaissance Office's role in intelligence gathering and analysis. I also gained an understanding of cryptography and how intelligence is shared between different agencies. Lastly, the book shows what some of the key intelligence was that the US possessed in it's efforts to combat Soviet, Iraqi, and Chinese influence in the late 1990's into the early 2000's.
- Psychologically Analytical: As I mentioned, just as germane to the entertainment of this book as someone committing espionage were the deeply embedded insecurities and sense of inferiority that factored into Regan's decision to attempt such an act.
- Fast Paced: There is a lot of information and background succinctly and coherently packed into a book that is very fluid in it's presentation. The only headaches induced by this book were when trying to track with encryption ciphers but that was only due to the difficulty of the subject, not the author's presentation.
I recommend the book to anyone with an interest in the US intelligence community or - maybe - anyone who tracked closely with more recent cases of espionage committed by Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, as I imagine this could provide some context for their methods.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the free copy in exchange for a review!
It's intriguing to read about an ordeal that played out like a spy thriller written for the big screen; that was not one bit fictional.
The antagonist, Brian Regan, is someone for whom my sympathy and antipathy vacillated throughout the book.
I always enjoy analyzing human psychology as it's the essence of every driving force in the world, whether at a macro or micro level of observation. Being granted insight into Regan's challenging childhood and adolescence was - as expected - very revealing. The bullying and and demeaning comments directed at him in academic settings due to his dyslexia and the resultant scars that racked his psyche and self-esteem, will come to play a big part in his ill-informed choices.
It's difficult not to sympathize with a guy whose childhood was mostly marred by a sense of inferiority and an abrasive and unaccommodating world.
Like any of us trying to outrun or conquer the demons of our formative years, Regan seeks to leave behind his childhood environment physically, intellectually, and socially by joining the Air Force.
His purpose and confidence are buoyed by his newfound stature in the World; he no longer appears as dull-witted, he is serving a higher purpose than himself, and he is freed from the callousness of those with whom he came of age.
The midway portion of the book is mainly ordinary for someone in Regan's circumstances; he begins a family with a Swede, elevates himself through a few positions within the intelligence community, settles down in the metropolitan DC area, and loses a substantial portion of his life to being stuck in traffic.
Nonetheless, his shortcomings endure; his colleagues still profile him as an aloof oaf who appears under socialized and therefore isolates himself from the camaraderie enjoyed by everyone else.
We're also reminded of Regan's dyslexia and consequent idiosyncrasies as the author reveals his reliance on excessively detailed and mundane lists he makes to manage his life by: packing lists for travel, how to commute to work with public transportation, how to succeed at routine tasks, etc.
While Regan's life appears fairly run-of-the-mill, his wife and he are accumulating vast amounts of credit card debt. Sensing his problems will only worsen due to now having 4 children, and an only slightly higher salary once he retires from the military and joins a private intelligence company, Regan settles on what he believes to be his only feasible avenue out of financial distress; committing espionage against the United States.
At this point, it seems fair to infer that Regan's ego, insecurity, resentment of his childhood, and delusions of grandeur supersede any sensibility or rationality.
He could have consulted any number of resources to dig his way out of what seemed a insurmountable challenge, yet, he chose not to.
And thus begins his endeavor to steal some of the most highly guarded secrets maintained by the US intelligence community; in doing so, he hopes to collect over $13 million. In Regan's mind, this is a just price for his years of service to his country and lacking financial compensation for such efforts.
One doesn't need to look too far between the lines to grasp that for him, this effort is also an opportunity to conclusively prove his intelligence to himself by outsmarting some of the most astute people within the US government.
I'll wrap up my review here as I don't want to delve into spoiler territory.
Suffice it to say, this was a very enjoyable read on multiple fronts; it was:
- Educational: I came away with an enhanced understanding the the National Reconnaissance Office's role in intelligence gathering and analysis. I also gained an understanding of cryptography and how intelligence is shared between different agencies. Lastly, the book shows what some of the key intelligence was that the US possessed in it's efforts to combat Soviet, Iraqi, and Chinese influence in the late 1990's into the early 2000's.
- Psychologically Analytical: As I mentioned, just as germane to the entertainment of this book as someone committing espionage were the deeply embedded insecurities and sense of inferiority that factored into Regan's decision to attempt such an act.
- Fast Paced: There is a lot of information and background succinctly and coherently packed into a book that is very fluid in it's presentation. The only headaches induced by this book were when trying to track with encryption ciphers but that was only due to the difficulty of the subject, not the author's presentation.
I recommend the book to anyone with an interest in the US intelligence community or - maybe - anyone who tracked closely with more recent cases of espionage committed by Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, as I imagine this could provide some context for their methods.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the free copy in exchange for a review!
August 6, 2023
Brian Regan, the title spy, was a man who in his childhood had dyslexia and other mental problems and suffered from bullying and an unhappy and impoverished home life, as well as an inability to do well enough in school. When he got old enough, he would decide to join the military to make something of himself, and would join the US Air Force, going into intelligence services because he was able to work in them. He even married a Swedish woman and have children with her.
But his problems followed him into adulthood. His odd behavior followed into his adult career, and he lacked the ability to control his spending, his wife having the same problems. Desperate for funds, he thought of selling the secrets he was dealing with to foreign powers, hoping to make his fortune at last. Despite the ultrasensitive information he managed to obtain through the lax security of his office, which he hid in various nearby hiding spots, he couldn't get foreign officials to take him seriously, until he tried to send some information to Libya, only for that to be intercepted by an agent working for the USA.
A comedy of errors that would have shamed Larrabee of Get Smart, and while no information evidently reached any foreign powers, the FBI still had to depend on Regan's help to retrieve what he had hidden. One could laugh at Regan, but one must also laugh at the US government for its own ineptitude in letting information get out. An interesting but depressing story.
But his problems followed him into adulthood. His odd behavior followed into his adult career, and he lacked the ability to control his spending, his wife having the same problems. Desperate for funds, he thought of selling the secrets he was dealing with to foreign powers, hoping to make his fortune at last. Despite the ultrasensitive information he managed to obtain through the lax security of his office, which he hid in various nearby hiding spots, he couldn't get foreign officials to take him seriously, until he tried to send some information to Libya, only for that to be intercepted by an agent working for the USA.
A comedy of errors that would have shamed Larrabee of Get Smart, and while no information evidently reached any foreign powers, the FBI still had to depend on Regan's help to retrieve what he had hidden. One could laugh at Regan, but one must also laugh at the US government for its own ineptitude in letting information get out. An interesting but depressing story.
February 7, 2021
I was hoping for a bit more suspense but this was otherwise a good book where I kept forgetting it wasn’t fiction, which is a compliment for this genre.
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