Michael Idov on Spy Fiction, OSINT, and Writing The Collaborators

In this fascinating episode of Spybrary, host Shane Whaley takes us to the espionage heart of London with expert London Spy Tours guide David Harry, also known as The London Spy. From real-life Cold War betrayals to Bond-worthy locations and hidden relics, David shares captivating insights from his acclaimed Westminster and St. James's London spy tours. This episode is a treasure trove for spy fiction lovers and espionage history buffs alike. 🔑 Key Takeaways: 🕵️‍♂️ The Origins of the London Spy Tours: David's London spy tours began accidentally—inspired by a 1700s book, The London Spy, and his own deep interest in espionage, fiction, and tradecraft.   He incorporates rare artifacts like SOE silk escape maps and spy gadgets, blending storytelling, history, and magic (he’s a magician too!). 🇬🇧 Why London Is Spy Central: London has long been a magnet for spies due to its imperial legacy, linguistic reach, and real-life spy operations. The city has seen major espionage incidents from the Cambridge Five to the Berlin Tunnel betrayal to the Markov umbrella assassination, and the Novichok poisonings. 🧭 Tour Highlights: Visit Carlton House Terrace, featuring WWII German embassy history, the tomb of an anti-Nazi dog (!), and the headquarters of the Information Research Department (IRD)—a Cold War propaganda arm. Learn how George Orwell supplied the IRD with a list of pro-Stalinist sympathizers. Explore shops like Lock & Co Hatters, Turnbull & Asser, and Peter Harrington Rare Books, where Fleming-signed first editions and Churchill’s ledgers await. 🔍 Spy Artifacts and Anecdotes: View original newspaper clippings that simultaneously reported the Berlin Tunnel discovery and serialized From Russia with Love.   Hear about CIA gadgets like the infamous "spy scrotum" radio transmitter for downed aircrew.   Handle spy coins with hidden compartments—linked to real-life agent escapades. 🎥 Fiction Meets Reality: Discover film and TV locations from James Bond, Slow Horses, The Sandbaggers, and Kingsman. Learn how David tailors his London Spy tours to each group—mixing history, Cold War intrigue, and spy fiction depending on interest. 📍 Useful for Listeners Who: Love spy fiction and real-world intelligence history. Are planning a trip to London and want an immersive espionage experience. Enjoy behind-the-scenes London spy stories, tradecraft, and collectibles. Appreciate well-researched, artifact-rich storytelling from a charismatic guide. 🧳 Book Your Tour: 🔗 www.thelondonspy.com

Michael Idov, author of The Collaborators, joins Spybrary to discuss the spy novel everyone in our community is raving about. In this in-depth conversation, Michael shares how his Soviet upbringing, real-world intelligence events like the Ryanair Belarus 'hijacking' incident and Moscow taxi hacker chaos, and his love for British espionage fiction shaped his gripping debut spy novel. We also dive into his work on Deutschland 83, Deutschland 89, his admiration for OSINT warriors like Bellingcat, and his love letter to cities like Riga, Berlin, and London. 🎧 Topics include: Real-world events that feature in The Collaborators Why Michael sees spy fiction as a milieu, not a genre The delicate balance between spy realism and cinematic action OSINT’s influence on modern espionage stories British vs. American spy fiction traditions 🔗 Show Notes + Links: https://spybrary.com/261 📚 Buy The Collaborators: https://geni.us/V8T5a Join the Spybrary Spy Fiction Fans Community: https://www.spybrary.com/community 👍 Like, subscribe, and comment — what’s your favourite modern spy novel?

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.

🔥 In This Episode: He's back. Former MI6 officer turned critically acclaimed novelist, Charles Beaumont returns to the Spybrary podcast on the launch day of his second novel, A Spy at War, the highly anticipated sequel to his bestselling debut, A Spy Alone. Recorded on publication day, this conversation delves deep—not only into the plot and characters of the new book, but also into the role of spy fiction in helping us make sense of today’s volatile geopolitical landscape. Join us for a gripping conversation about war, fiction, statecraft, and the moral complexities of modern espionage. A QUICK HEADS UP. A Spybrary first, due to Charles Beaumont's work for the Intelligence Services, our technical division has digitally altered his voice to protect his identity. Join the Spybrary Community - https://www.spybrary.com  

In this Brush Pass episode of Brush Pass, Le Carre Cast and Barbican Station podcast host Jeff Quest, gives us the lowdown on two spy-related theatrical productions: 'Operation Mincemeat' and 'Dakar 2000'. Operation Mincemeat on Broadway John Golden Theatre   252 W. 45th St., New York, NY The stunning true story of a scheme every bit as dicey, daring, and ridiculous as opening a new musical on Broadway! The best-reviewed show in West End history is now on Broadway! 74 ★★★★★ Reviews and Counting! (which, according to our calculations, adds up to 370 stars) SYNOPSIS: It’s 1943, and the Allied Forces are on the ropes. Luckily, they’ve got a trick up their sleeve. Well, not up their sleeve, per se, but rather inside the pocket of a stolen corpse. Equal parts farce, thriller, and Ian Fleming-style spy caper (with an assist from Mr. Fleming himself), Operation Mincemeat tells the wildly improbable and hilarious true story of the covert operation that turned the tide of WWII. SCHEDULE: March 25–30: Tuesday @7pm, Wednesday @2pm and 7:30pm, Thursday @7pm, Friday @7:30pm, Saturday @2pm and 7:30pm, Sunday @2pm Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission Dakar 2000 In Senegal on the eve of Y2K, an idealistic Peace Corps volunteer survives a mysterious car accident. An imposing State Department operative immediately takes command of the situation and his safety. Though they couldn’t be more different, they form an unlikely relationship. But when it becomes clear that they both have secrets, the volunteer is roped into a darker side of public service – one he can’t come back from. Unpredictable at every turn, this world-premiere thriller was commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club. Written by Rajiv Joseph (Pulitzer Prize finalist for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo; King James at MTC) and directed by May Adrales (Vietgone and Poor Yella Rednecks at MTC).   Have you watched Operation Mincemeat and/or Dakar 2000? What did you think? Let us know in the Spybrary community. 🔗 Links & Resources: Operation Mincemeat Broadway Info and Tickets Dakar 2000 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Here’s how you can support Spybrary: ✅ Subscribe & Review – Your

Welcome to the third episode of Section F - our Spy Movie Podcast track on Spybrary. Our Section F handpicked hosts and guests discuss their favourite spy movies both the classics and the hidden gems of spy films. Today Spybrary's Section F delve into the 1963 movie adaptation of Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery and directed by Terence Young. Host Shane Whaley is joined by Section F's Dr Eric Newsom and Michael Huie, along with special guest film historian Dr. Llewella Chapman, author of the British Film Institute’s book on From Russia With Love. https://geni.us/4Ppp  The team dives deep into the 1963 Bond classic, exploring everything from Red Grant’s chilling villainy to Connery’s evolving performance as 007, and why this film is often hailed as not just the best 007 movie but maybe the best spy movie ever made. The panel explores the film's darker, more espionage-driven tone compared to other James Bond entries and its legacy in the genre. Llewella brings rich insights from her research, offering fascinating production details and commentary on its visual and psychological depth. What did you think of From Russia With Love? Agree with our panel or have your own take? Drop a comment on YouTube or your favorite podcast app. Or better still, why not join 4,000+ spy fans in our community: https://www.spybrary.com/community    

Is the German Spy Museum in Berlin worth your time? In this episode of Brush Pass on Spybrary, we take you inside this fascinating espionage attraction to uncover its best exhibits, hidden gems, and whether it’s a must-visit for spy fans. Spybrary’s on-the-ground team in Berlin – Station C's Matt Batten, David Morgan, and Father Richard Green – share their German Spy Museum Berlin review. Both Matt and David are return visitors to the German Spy Museum - how was their experience on a second visit? Tune in to find out. Have you visited the German Spy Museum? What did you think? let us know in the comments or better still come and join us in our free Spybrary Community with 4,000 other espionage fans.

Ever wonder what spy novels a real-life Special Forces and CIA operative can't put down? Former Special Forces & CIA Officer James Stejskal reveals his top five spy thrillers on Spybrary's Dead Drop 5. 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. Today’s guest is James Stejskal, a former U.S. Army Special Forces and CIA operative, turned military historian and author. James spent 35 years operating in high-stakes locations across Africa, Europe, the Balkans, and the Near and Far East. Now an accomplished writer, he’s best known for his Cold War thriller series, The Snake Eater Chronicles, and the highly regarded non-fiction book Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the U.S. Army's Elite (1956–1990). In this episode, James shares his five essential spy reads—spy thrillers that influenced him and shaped his view on espionage fiction. James Spy Book Picks can be found at www.spybrary.com/256

🔎 "Most mole hunts end in an unsatisfying fashion…" – David McCloskey Former CIA analyst-turned-bestselling spy novelist and The Rest is Classified Podcast Host David McCloskey returns to Spybrary for an illuminating conversation with journalist and espionage fan The Sunday Times' Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman.  From Langley’s shadowy corridors to the gator-infested wilds of Florida, McCloskey’s latest thriller, The Seventh Floor, delivers a modern-day mole hunt infused with betrayal, thrills and intrigue.  They discuss McCloskey's journey from a promising debut author to an international expert on espionage, his new podcast 'The Rest Is Classified', and his reflections on the Syrian conflict. The conversation delves into the psychological dynamics of regime change, the challenges of writing fiction versus non-fiction, and the development of McCloskey's protagonist, Artemis Proctor, in his latest book 'The Seventh Floor'.  

Welcome to our book club episode on On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Ian Fleming's eleventh James Bond novel and one of the most pivotal in the series. Spybrary host Shane Whaley introduces this James Bond Book club episode from the steps of the College of Arms in London, a location that plays a significant role in the story as Bond takes on a unique undercover mission. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the book where Bond faces his arch-nemesis Blofeld, but it’s also where we see a rare, deeply emotional side to 007 as he falls in love with the enigmatic Tracy di Vicenzo. Packed with high-stakes action, breathtaking Alpine settings, and a story that forever changes the Bond mythos, it’s a classic that deserves a closer look. Let’s dive in Is On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Ian Fleming's best James Bond novel yet? Join our host, Shane Whaley, as we dive deep into the world of espionage literature featuring the latest updates on Ian Fleming's newest masterpiece, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Alongside guests David Craggs, Andy Onyx, and Hildebrand Group's Ian Douglas, we explore the narrative and character developments that showcase Fleming’s storytelling prowess. On Her Majesty's Secret Service Book Club Takeaways Ian Fleming’s Masterpiece?: Discover how Fleming has returned to form with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The book is praised for its emotional depth and rich character development, marking it as one of his best James Bond books. Bond's Personal Evolution: Hear our guests discuss the transformation of James Bond's character in this latest installment. Fleming adds layers to Bond, exploring his humanity and personal relationships, bringing a fresh perspective to the renowned spy. Thrilling Scenes and Cinematic Flair: From high-stakes chases and avalanche escapes to the climactic showdown at Piz Gloria, the book's vivid and cinematic qualities promise an exhilarating read that could seamlessly transition onto the big screen. M at Home and at Christmas: Hear why none of the James Bond Book Club Members fancy a Yuletide gathering at M's home. And Much More! Don't miss out on this compelling discussion and join the conversation with the Spybrary community online. Dive into the latest episode and get a front-row seat at the James Bond Book Club. In this episode, host Shane Whaley and guests David Craggs, author Andy Onyx, and Hildebrand's Ian Douglas dive deep into Ian Fleming's eleventh James Bond book On Her Majesty Secret Service (1963) as if they are in the year of publication.