American Spy: Wry Reflections on My Life in the CIA

by H.K. Roy

This ain't your daddy's spy story. In a memoir written as a series of narrative vignettes, a former CIA operations officer recounts his years of danger, intrigue, and adventure.This candid and darkly witty memoir recounts an exhilarating life --and a few close brushes with death. With remarkable sangfroid and a humorist's eye for absurdity, H. K. Roy describes his many strange and risky exploits in his long career with the CIA. Whether he was pursuing Soviet and Cuban spies, running denied area operations in Eastern Europe, hunting Bosnian War criminals, or providing actionable intelligence to US government and coalition forces in Iraq, Roy usually found himself at the right place at the right time.Except when he didn't--like the time he stumbled into a life-threatening ambush by Iranian terrorists while dodging Serb snipers and shelling in Sarajevo. Eight summers later, caught in a blinding sandstorm between Amman and Baghdad, he learned his fate was in the hands of an Iraqi tribal chief who had just lost his entire family to a US airstrike in Ramadi, in a failed attempt to kill Saddam Hussein that had tragic consequences. Combining dedication to duty with a maverick's disdain for bureaucracy, Roy makes it clear that he prefers foreign locales to Washington and thrives on the adrenaline rush that comes with danger. He also sheds much light on why intelligence is an essential component of national defense, even our very survival as a nation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Espionage, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Biography

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2019

About the author

“ARE YOU A CIA AGENT?”

H. K. Roy has gotten that question a lot over the years. His response is always the same: “If I am, no one told me.”

It’s the perfect cover story, if you think about it. In fact, he was a staff CIA Operations Officer (aka Case Officer) for thirteen years, serving in Latin America and in all regions of the former Yugoslavia. Since resigning from CIA, he has continued to support the global national security mission in Iraq, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, and elsewhere. He has published articles on intelligence operations in World & I Magazine, the Foreign Service Journal, and CIA’s Studies in Intelligence. Roy holds a JD degree from George Washington University and is fluent in multiple languages.

Roy is an active supporter of Spookstock, an annual battle of the bands fundraiser for the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Spookstock is a private, invitation-only, and senior executive-only event, with no press or PR. Beneficiaries of Spookstock are the children of fallen warriors. Dozens of new beneficiaries are added to the list each year.

Reviews

[Praise Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Spy: Wry Reflections on My Life in the CIA was one of those books that caught me in its web almost immediately. What I liked best was how real and believable it all was. It didn't read like some over the top spy thriller but like hearing someone talk about real experiences in dangerous and politically tense situations which for me made the book all the more engaging. The espionage, war-zone operations, intelligence work and humor blended together and made for an interesting reading experience. I particularly enjoyed how the author combined serious moments with wit, which made the heavier parts of the book easier to digest without losing their punch.

The book's plot stays true to the real portrayal of CIA operations by the little use of glamorizing the CIA work that gives the stories a genuine and unforgettable feeling. The book uses a variety of experiences and locations as its main structural elements which gave me a minor discontinuity problem. The experience at no point detracted from my enjoyment of the story during the performance.

Four out of five stars because this was an engaging read.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoirs by former CIA officers are frequently fascinating, but rarely laugh-out-loud funny. This one managed to be both. Entertainment value aside though, it doesn't shy away from discussing brutally serious issues - the chapter featuring an exchange of cables about the Srebrenica massacre will easily turn your stomach, both for the descriptions of the brutality reported and for the sickeningly casual attachment of an invoice for expenses incurred while looking into same on the ground. The author's disdain for bureaucratic hurdles getting in the way of getting things done is palpable, and his description of some of the bureaucratic BS he's encountered is so hilariously absurd one doesn't know whether to laugh or cry about it.

[Christine Einsel Haba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the insight this book provided that many of us do not account for as civilians in constant political turmoil. The tone of the book made it so easy to blaze through, and it was riddled with enough one-liners and jokes that the often darker stories were well-balanced. The CIA jargon wasn’t so overwhelming that I lost sight of the main story, but it was enough that I finished the book with some new words like bohica! Roy also did a fine job of reflecting his character - a spy dad and husband who had an incredible set of skills offset with a few instances of shenanigans. His role as an agent seemed much more realistic than anything I’ve read or experienced on television.

Most importantly, I really appreciate the perspective this book gives us in terms of how the world works and how it has always worked. People are people, things don’t change, and then things don’t change. This book has inspired me to be more intentional in understanding politics and relationships as we once again face more threats of war with a country even Roy himself was afraid to step foot in.

[Alan Cahn]

I could relate to Croatia, Serbia as I have been there after the fall of Yugoslavia.
However his irrational support of a group called Chetniks was questionable especially their treatment of the Jews.
I found the book disappointing because of the failure of the CIA to deal with Syria and Assads killing fields that Roy covered up with minimum verbiage.
Never touched how Obama failed with the "redline" in Syria.
His dumping on the President of the United States, President Trump, undermining the bit of tension that was in the book.
He did not allude to Iran and the horrendous effects of Obama's so-called deal with the Fascist Mullah government.
His many failures with the CIA not taking his advice also was evident in his bitterness to the President.

[ConnaCarol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories, told as vignettes. Author is a bit too cocky for my taste.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book written by an author who spent many years working for the CIA. It’s a spy’s life, told in a series of anecdotes that are sometimes funny, often suspenseful, and frankly, pretty jaw-dropping. This is truth is stranger than fiction stuff that reveals what it’s like to work at one of the most harrowing jobs imaginable.

The author describes in detail perilous missions in various regions and countries where he risked life and limb. It’s a deep dive into the intelligence community that shows the inner workings of a secret world many of us never take the time to think seriously about. Those who are interested in fascinating memoirs should put this at the top of their reading list.

[Alisha L · Rating 5 out of 5]

wild ride

American spy is a memoir of a retired CIA agent, and his adventures while employed.
I feel like anytime that you see behind the curtain of something you're not supposed to see you're genuinely interested,. This book is no exception. The author is an amazing storyteller that puts you right in the action and gives you a glimpse of a life that most people would never live.
All of his adventures and the scary behind the scenes makes you realize that there's a lot going on in the world that you really have no idea about. This book was a super fun read that makes me appreciate my boring life.

[Candice Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever known anyone in the military? Did they come back with fascinating stories? Are you fascinated by their stories? Do you like reading about stories from those who served? Because of this, I was interested and chose to read America Spy by H. K. Roy. He brings you on his adventures of being a spy. He shares his experiences with being close to death and where he traveled including many different countries. I like the flow of the book because it shares a journey. The book isn't too long and you won't get bored either. I hope that you will find inspiration from a man who gave part of his life to serve.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was going to be a traditional espionage memoir, but it was something different. The author shares his experiences through a collection of personal stories that often blend danger, humor, and reflection. I think the book is more personal and approachable than many books in this genre.
The reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is that the vignette structure occasionally made it difficult for me to feel a strong narrative flow. Some stories were so interesting that I wanted more detail before moving on to the next chapter. Still, that's more a matter of personal preference than a flaw in the writing.
Overall, I found this to be an entertaining and informative memoir.

[Ryan Hebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

This guy's writing just rubs me the wrong way. It's cocky and arrogant with a holier (and smarter) than thou (and everyone else in the government) attitude that was enough to make me quit a book on a topic I'm hugely interested in. When he made sure to reference the private company he started since leaving the CIA within the first few pages, I knew things didn't look good.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting, well written!

[ZebraDebra]

I am often interested in memoirs, so I was excited when I found this book. However, I found American Spy disappointing for the most part. The highlights of the book were really not that exciting and the humor is neither the sort that makes me laugh out loud, nor the kind that makes me even smile remotely. I was also not impressed by the way that this book was written. It urgently needs better editing and proofreading. I think it might be a better read if it was shorter and more polished. Nevertheless, readers who like every spy memoir may still find things of interest in this book. I am giving it a solid three stars.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy provides an excellent memoir of his time in the CIA, avoiding nearly all of the pitfalls of weaker books, perhaps those of junior officers with supposedly deep insights, or those of senior executives far removed from operations who inflate their role in history. Roy knows his business well enough to have gotten this book through pre-publication review, yet still provides insight into managing intelligence operations that other books often overlook. Less secure writers would have left redacted portions in their book to impress the reader or sold their book by sensationalizing some unique perspective on being a (fill in the blank) serving in the CIA or in some exotic part of the world. However, Roy simply tells it like it as, from paramilitary training to being chased out of Bosnia, and is more effective for doing so. Even more so, Roy is effective at telling his story while respecting his legal obligations to the CIA and USA and avoiding unnecessary and distracting political commentary.

Roy's book is also noteworthy for being politically neutral and providing insights that all Americans should appreciate. He is sensitive to the misogynistic culture of paramilitary training that he participated in, yet also very keen to point out the failings of risk-averse bureaucrats and political-appointees and politicians willing to betray American values or lacking in the courage to do trust the officers on the front lines when presented with evidence of war crimes.

American Spy is not the most insightful CIA memoir, the most engaging, the wittiest, the most sensational, or even particularly relevant. However, the fact is that most Americans serving in the intelligence service are themselves none of these things, and it is the rare intelligence officer that balances these characteristics effectively. Roy seems to do so with this book.

[Rafidain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Read it in a day! An honorable, courageous and brilliant life of a patriot whose sense of humor will delight you. Do yourself a favor and read this real-life adventure of a former CIA operative’s intriguing life and work.

[Rafidain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Read it in a day! An honorable, courageous and brilliant life of a patriot whose sense of humor will delight you. Do yourself a favor and read this real-life adventure of a former CIA operative’s intriguing life and work.
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