The Spy Toolkit: Extraordinary inventions from World War II

by Stephen Twigge, Sally Hoult (Contributor), National Archives

Spies claim that theirs is the second oldest profession. Secret agents across time have had the same key looking and listening, getting the information they need, and smuggling it back home. Over the course of human history, some amazingly complex and imaginative tools have been created to help those working under the cloak of supreme secrecy.

During World War II, British undercover agents were the heroes behind the scenes, playing a dangerous and sometimes deadly game--risking all to gather intelligence about their enemies. What did these agents have in their toolkits? What ingenious spy gadgets did they have up their sleeves? What devious tricks did they deploy to avoid detection? From the ingenious to the amusing, this highly visual book delves into espionage files that were long held top secret, revealing spycraft in action.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2018

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives]

I love this sort of thing, it gives an intriguing insight into the methods employed by us in WWII regarding the use of secret agents or spies. It was a lot shorter than I had imagined but thoroughly engaging and complete with photographs of some of the equipment used. I have always being interested in learning about the two world wars and our history as part of them and this was a very quick and easy read on the subject.

I would like to thank Stephen Twigge, Osprey Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

[Randal White · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very brief history of the British "Special Operations Executive" (SOE). The organization was created by Winston Churchill, to fight behind enemy lines in World War 2.
It briefly discusses the recruitment, the training, and the "devices and gadgets" employed. There are photographs of some of the "spy" equipment used.
This is a very short book, 160 pages in all. In my opinion, the author could have covered the subject in much more detail.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and breezy introduction to espionage and its accessories - readable for most ages I think and I'd totally buy this for a fun read to share with friends at a cabin or beach house (overly specific? maybe.). Everyone loves a good description of a dead drop or how to create a disguise, right? Also a good companion piece, I think, to classic espionage novels to give some grounding to the exploding cigarettes and Continental train stations.

I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tabby Shiflett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief introduction to WWII era spies, their craft, and ware. The work includes numerous photos, is well-organized, and is appropriate for readers of all ages. A good place to start for anyone interested in spies and history, the first quarter of the book is informative text while the rest is a collection of photos. The pictures are clearer on the epub version.

Net Galley Feedback

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It was definitely informative and well written and had some good examples of all the different types of tools and information available to spies from a historical perspective. Some things I thought weren't actually possible but were definitely real life tools! Great read.

[Vinay Mistry · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's quite likely you have come across this book at a museum. There's only really around 30 pages of reading in this book and then 100 pictures of various tools of war. Its interesting but could be much better for the price

[Justin Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Medium interesting. It's basically a museum book you'd get in the bookshop on your way out. Lots of photos after some brief descriptions of WWII spy techniques and equipment.

[Jackie Lantern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this, I learned a lot that I didn’t know. Osprey always publishes the best pieces on war.

[Carolyn McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating little book! The photos were very interesting, the text educational and revealing, and all round this was a wonderful book! Definitely just the thing for any spy enthusiast!