Spycraft Secrets: An Espionage A-Z

by Nigel West, David H. Petraeus (Foreword)

as intriguing as it is forbidden . . .Tradecraft is the term applied to techniques used by intelligence personnel to assist them in conducting their operations and, like many other professions, the espionage business has developed its own rich lexicon.In the real, sub rosa world of intelligence-gathering, each bit of jargon acts as a veil of secrecy over particular types of activity, and in this book acclaimed author Nigel West explains and give examples of the lingo in action. He draws on the first-hand experience of defectors to and from the Soviet Union; surveillance operators who kept terrorist suspects under observation in Northern Ireland; case officers who have put their lives at risk by pitching a target in a denied territory; the NOCs who lived under alias to spy abroad; and much more.Turn these pages and be immersed in the real world of James assets, black operations, double agents, triple agents ... it’s all here.

Genres: History, Espionage, Military Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2017

Reviews

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read of spying and spy related issues. Broken down into an alphabetical listing, it covers lots of terms, as well as historical nuggets. The kind of book you can read a few pages at a time and at your leisure. I found it engaging and enjoyable.

[Kursad Albayraktaroglu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good compendium of espionage tradecraft terms and concepts, lots of historical references - some of them very well-known (the "Rote Kapelle" ring, Operation Mincemeat etc.), some more obscure.

Parts of the book were too UK-centric for my taste with many references to the UK secret services' struggle with IRA and its offshoots, but overall it is an excellent book for anyone interested in the history of the world's second oldest profession.

[John Fullerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful indeed if you happen to be writing spy thrillers, which I am, though it might well be time for an updated edition as so much more is known about contemporary espionage. The technology of espionage has moved on, too. Also, it would be helpful to look at the Chinese foreign intelligence and internal security agencies as well as Chinese terminology - all of which is missing from this volume, which has a rather narrow focus on the Cold War. The emphasis is on the UK and US, but I would have preferred more on European spies and their employers, as well as the Vietnamese, Cubans, Turks and Gulf Arab states.