Show Notes
Ever wonder what spy books former CIA spy Valerie Plame can't put down?
Today on Spybrary, host Shane Whaley is joined by none other than Valerie Plame—former CIA covert operative, bestselling author, and an iconic voice in the world of intelligence and espionage.
For over a decade, Valerie Plame served on the front lines of national security, operating undercover in some of the world's most complex and volatile environments. Her CIA career—and the controversial public outing that ended it—has been the subject of headlines, books, and a major Hollywood film 'Fair Game'
Now, Valerie Plame joins us for a very different kind of mission—her Spybrary Dead Drop 5. She'll reveal the five spy books she'd choose to stash in a hidden drop in East Berlin, the titles she'd rely on during a covert operation behind the Iron Curtain. From childhood favorites to deeply researched histories, Valerie's picks promise intrigue, insight, and a few surprises.
Strap in—this is going to be a Spybrary episode to remember.
The Dead Drop 5 is back! In this much-requested Spybrary feature, our guest is embedded behind the Iron Curtain and can request five spy books, a gadget, luxury items and more from their handler.
Before we get to Valerie Plame's five favourite books do check out her event Spies at Seas. Valerie and her team have kindly offered a discount for Spybrarians.
More from Spybrary Spy Podcast
Sara Paretsky, legendary creator of V.I. Warshawski, joins me on the Spybrary Spy Podcast to talk about Bad Company — her new spy thriller featuring retired CIA officer Lily, a woman who discovers that you never really leave the Company. We talk about Sara's leap from detective fiction into espionage, creating the fictional Central Asian country of Hayalistan, women inside the CIA, and why an older female intelligence officer offers such a different take on the traditional spy hero. Sara also reveals why she needed eight drafts to find Bad Company, the dog-sled exfiltration scene that survived every rewrite, and how questions of power, anger and voicelessness drive her fiction. And, naturally, we talk spy books: John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Mrs Pollifax, Manning Coles and the wonderful Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson espionage caper Hopscotch. A fascinating conversation with one of crime fiction's most influential writers about what happens when she enters the world of spies.
Paul Burke joins Spybrary hosts Shane Whaley and Michael Huie to discuss his new book, Spies on Screen, an ambitious guide to more than 900 spy films and television series. From James Bond and John le Carré to Slow Horses, The Bureau, The Americans and forgotten spy thrillers, Paul explores how espionage on screen has evolved from glamorous secret agents to damaged, morally complex intelligence officers. Along the way, the trio debate which Bond actor is closest to Ian Fleming's original creation, why The Spy Who Came in from the Cold remains one of the great adaptations, what makes The Day of the Jackal such an enduring classic, and which overlooked spy films and TV series deserve to be rediscovered. Paul also explains why many of the best spy stories are really anti-spy stories, how streaming has transformed the genre, and why international espionage dramas are becoming more important than ever. Plus, stay to the end for the Spybrary quick-fire round, where Paul reveals his picks for best Bond, best spy film, best spy TV series, most underrated espionage movie and more. If you love spy films, spy TV shows and discovering hidden gems, this episode is for you. In this episode: The evolution of spy films and TV James Bond, Timothy Dalton and Ian Fleming The Spy Who Came in from the Cold The Day of the Jackal Slow Horses The Bureau The Americans Forgotten Cold War spy films Underrated espionage TV The future of spy stories on screen Spies on Screen by Paul Burke is out now. Visit Spybrary for more spy books, films, TV, interviews and intelligence history.
What makes a great spy novel? For William Boyd, it is complexity, uncertainty and that irresistible feeling that, as a reader, you are constantly trying to work out who can be trusted.
What if the CIA and MI6 stopped behaving like allies—and started spying on each other? David McCloskey joins Tim Shipman to discuss London Station, his fifth spy novel, and the real intelligence relationship behind its central premise. McCloskey explains why the CIA–SIS "Special Relationship" can sometimes resemble a dysfunctional marriage, what the CIA Chief of Station in London actually does, and how conversations with former American and British intelligence officers shaped the book. He also introduces the wonderfully British intelligence concept of "deep chat"—those unofficial conversations where trusted allies may share rather more than appears in the official cables. There's plenty for Artemis Procter fans too. David discusses her move to London, why she is spectacularly ill-suited to the diplomatic side of the job, and the changes the character is going through. And then comes one of the episode's best stories: McCloskey reveals what happened when he unexpectedly came face-to-face at CIA headquarters with the former colleague he had in mind when he first created Artemis. Plus: Bobby Jerome, CIA vs MI6 tensions, how McCloskey researched Vauxhall Cross, his direct sequel to Damascus Station, the Artemis TV series, Moscow X on film, and what's coming next. A must-listen for David McCloskey readers, Artemis Procter devotees, and anyone fascinated by the real world behind modern spy fiction.
A propulsive, high-stakes thriller—Robert McCaw delivers a gripping tale of espionage, betrayal, and deception amid the race to expose Russian moles at the highest levels of the US government. Tense, timely, and full of international intrigue, Traitors will keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended. David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of The Persian