Spybrary Spy Podcast
240 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 70 ratingsSpybrary is a podcast for fans of spy books, spy tv and spy movies since 2017. We bring you author interviews and reader discussions on our favorite spy books and novels.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
'A darker, scarier Herron'. Author Mick Herron discusses his latest Jackson Lamb novel - Slough House
February 05, 2021 18:24 - 51 minutes - 35.8 MBMick Herron returns to the Spybrary Podcast to discusses his latest novel - Slough House. Mick is joined in conversation with our Man in London - David Craggs In his best and most ambitious novel yet, Mick Herron, “the le Carré of the future” (BBC), offers an unsparing look at the corrupt web of media, global finance, spycraft, and politics that power our modern world. “This is a darker, scarier Herron. The gags are still there but the satire's more biting. The privatization of a secret...
The Agent Runner by Simon Conway. Spy Book Review. (137)
January 30, 2021 23:24 - 5 minutes - 4.19 MBToday we decode a brush pass transmission, a spy book review of Simon Conway's The Agent Runner. Author and Spy Book fan, Stephen England gives us his brush pass spy book review of The Agent Runner by Simon Conway
What is SPYSCAPE's new spy tv and movie festival SPYFLIX all about? With Francis Jago.(136)
January 23, 2021 15:59 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBSPYFLIX is a new spy movie and tv festival focused on secrets presented by our friends at SPYSCAPE. Spybrary host Shane Whaley got together with SPYSCAPE's Marketing Director, Francis Jago to find out more. The SPYFLIX festival will highlight new voices and stories focused on secrets. The festival is now accepting submissions through 28 February 2021 and will kick off screenings starting 18 April 2021… What is SPYFLIX? Secrets intrigue us, and they make great stories. Their universal a...
Spy Book Review = Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd (135)
January 15, 2021 17:18 - 7 minutes - 5.14 MBAuthor CP Bennison gives us the lowdown on Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd in this brush pass spy book review. Did you know every week we curate all the major spy book, tv and movies news into an easy to read, quick emails? Join the Spybrary Intelligence Service at www.spybrary.com
Two Don Winslow Book Recommendations for Spy Book Fans - Brush Pass Spy Book Review
January 01, 2021 18:24 - 13 minutes - 9.71 MBToday we decode a brush pass transmission sent in by Australian author and Spy Book fan, Aiden L Bailey. He gives us his brush pass spy book review of The Power of the Dog and The Cartel by Don Winslow and tells us why he thinks spy fans will enjoy these two Don Winslow novels. Aiden also shares his thoughts on the various sub-genres that make up the spy genre and why Don Winslow fits both the cerebral and action spy genres.
Favorite Spy Books of 2020 - Jason King Unleashed and Unscripted (133)
December 21, 2020 19:33 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBJason King returns to the Spybrary Podcast for his annual Christmas address to share his favourite spy books of 2020 as well as what he is looking forward to in 2021. This is the most requested feature of Spybrary, requested by spouses, friends, and relatives who purchase Christmas presents for loved ones based on the Jason King picks. (I kid you not!) Also on this episode of the Spybrary Podcast, Jason King and Spybrary Host Shane Whaley discuss: The legacy of John le Carré (A round table...
Paranoid Visions -Spies, conspiracies and the secret state in British television drama, interview with Joseph Oldham (132)
December 16, 2020 21:16 - 1 hour - 32.7 MBJeff Quest (Spywrite) chats with the author of Paranoid Visions, Joseph Oldham. Paranoid Visions explores the history of the spy and conspiracy genres on British television, from 1960s Cold War series through 1980s conspiracy dramas to contemporary ‘war on terror’ thrillers. It analyses classic dramas including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Edge of Darkness, A Very British Coup, and Spooks. This book will be an invaluable resource for television scholars interested in a new perspective on th...
RIP John le Carré -His Secret Sharer: The Hidden Truths of John le Carré (131)
December 14, 2020 01:46 - 20 minutes - 14.6 MBTonight we report the sad news that John le Carre has passed away. Jeff Quest of Spywrite recorded this episode in 2019 looking at the life of John le Carre. Spybrary host Shane Whaley announces a special upcoming episode of Spybrary where he will broadcast your tributes to John le Carre. Record your tributes to John le Carre here.
Spy Movie Review - The Internecine Project with Andy Onyx (130)
December 02, 2020 22:17 - 8 minutes - 5.94 MB'An espionage thriller from the golden age of such outings.' Today we decode a brush pass transmission sent in by Spybrary listener Andy Onyx. Andy gives us his brush pass spy movie review of The Internecine Project. 'According to the dictionary, internecine means destructive to both sides in a conflict. So let's just hold that thought with the rhythm of its syllables in the three-word title the internecine project, which lets us know what we're in for. An espionage thriller from the gol...
Spy Author Interview - Parallel Shadows with C P Bennison (Spybrary Tea Break.)
November 21, 2020 16:20 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBWe are joined today by spy author C P Bennison, author of Parallel Shadows which reveals how, in 1930s London, two young secretaries became spies for opposing sides. Against the backdrop of the Second World War, and subsequently the Cold War, the novel fictionalizes the true stories of Olga Grey, who became an MI5 double agent, and Letty Norwood, who was a major spy for the Soviet Union. This is the Spybrary Tea Break - short interviews with spy authors.
The Rage by Simon Conway - Spy Book review with Andy Onyx (128)
November 18, 2020 19:11 - 8 minutes - 5.87 MBToday we decode a brush pass transmission sent in by Spybrary listener Andy Onyx. He gives us his brush pass spy book review of Rage by Simon Conway. Jonah Said is a man with nowhere left to run. Hunted, haunted, and bearing the horrific scars of a life spent on the frontline of some of the world's bloodiest battlefields, he's not what you'd call a model soldier. That's why the British Army has shipped him to the Zone—a lawless strip of desert between Iraq and Kuwait where everything is f...
Spy Book Tea Break - The Glimmer Girl with author Andy Onyx (127)
October 31, 2020 12:08 - 15 minutes - 11 MBDay of the Jackal meets The Wicker Man. Author Andy Onyx joins us on our Spybrary Tea Break to share more about his latest book The Glimmer Girl. In the earliest days of World War One, a fateful meeting between Commander Smith-Cumming, Chief of the Secret Service Bureau and a mysterious stranger, results in a diabolical bargain. Stricken by events that follow , the Commander seizes an opportunity for atonement and vengeance by initiating Operation BARBELL, the outcome of which will echo lo...
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming on The James Bond Book Club (126)
October 28, 2020 18:52 - 1 hour - 47.8 MBIt is 1954 and we review the latest Ian Fleming James Bond 007 spy novel, Live and Let Die. With David Craggs, Ian Douglas and Shane Whaley
Spy Author Tea Break - Standpoint with Derek Thompson
October 16, 2020 18:17 - 19 minutes - 14 MBSpybrary Spy Book Podcast host Shane Whaley takes time away from the East German Desk to enjoy a 15 minute tea break with spy authors. Today Derek Thompson, author of spy thriller novel Standpoint tells us more about his first book in his Thomas Bladen spy thriller series.
Agent Sonya: Meet Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy with Ben Macintyre and Tim Shipman (124)
October 08, 2020 20:28 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBBen Macintyre, author of Agent Sonya makes his debut on the Spybrary Spy Book podcast. Ben sits down with author, journalist, and special agent Tim Shipman to share more about his latest spy non-fiction book. I am embarrassed to say I knew nothing about Soviet spy Ursula Burton. Though there are some very familiar names in this book, notables include Richard Sorge, Klaus Fuchs, Roger Hollis, Alexander Foote and many more. As we have come to expect with Ben Macintyre's writing, Agent Sony...
Spy Book Tea Break - with Edge of Reality author CG Faulkner 9123)
September 24, 2020 21:55 - 16 minutes - 11.8 MBShane takes time away from the East German Desk to enjoy a spy break with spy authors. Today CG Faulkner, author of The Edge of Reality drops in at Station V and tells us more about his first book in his Cold War Trilogy - The Edge Of Reality.
Casino Royale - The James Bond Book Club (122)
September 08, 2020 16:22 - 1 hour - 49.8 MBWhat is The James Bond Book Club? Set in the 1950s as the Ian Fleming James Bond books are released, Spybrary Spy Book Podcast hosts David Craggs and Shane Whaley plus a special guest will review the latest Ian Fleming 007 novel. In this episode, spy author, Jeremy Duns joins Shane and David to give you their opinions on Ian Fleming's debut novel Casino Royale.
Dead Doubles: The Extraordinary Worldwide Hunt for One of the Cold War's Most Notorious Spy Rings with Trevor Barnes
September 06, 2020 18:40 - 1 hour - 50 MBIf you are fascinated by the Portland Spy Ring you are going to love this. If you know nothing about the Portland Spy Ring you are going to love this. I often say that spy fact is often more intriguing than spy fiction and that is what we get in Trevor Barnes' book Dead Doubles. Author Trevor Barnes joins us on the Spybrary Spy Book Podcast to share more about this fascinating story of spying and counter-intelligence. He is expertly debriefed by guest host Chris Carr, the host and produce...
The Human Factor by Graham Greene. Brush Pass Review (120)
August 31, 2020 17:30 - 8 minutes - 5.82 MBAuthor and Spy Book fan, Andy Onyx gives us his brush pass spy book review of The Human Factor by Graham Greene.
Agent Running in the Field by John le Carre - Review (119)
August 20, 2020 06:30 - 20 minutes - 14.7 MBToday sees the release of John le Carre's most recent work, Agent Running In The Field in paperback. To celebrate its publication, John le Carre fan and Spybrarian Clarissa Aykroyd deliver us a quick brush pass review about Agent Running In The Field. Following Clarissa's review of the novel, you can hear from John le Carre himself as he reads Chapter 1 of Agent Running In The Field for us.
Introducing The James Bond Book Club with David Craggs (118)
August 14, 2020 22:30 - 34 minutes - 24.2 MBWhat is The James Bond Book Club? Set in the 1950s as the Ian Fleming James Bond books are released, Spybrary Spy Book Podcast hosts David Craggs and Shane Whaley plus a special guest will review the latest Ian Fleming 007 novel. In this episode, Shane and David discuss the themes they hope to explore as they embark on a journey through the Ian Fleming James Bond novels. On the James Bond Book Club, we will dissect each 007 novel in order and by : 1) Discussing the timing of each book....
Interview with Spy Thriller Author Simon Conway (117)
August 07, 2020 17:48 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBSpybrary, the Spy Book Podcast's David Craggs interviews spy thriller author Simon Conway about his life in the military, clearing land mines, and writing spy books. Simon has had five novels published including A Loyal Spy, winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. His latest novel The Stranger is published on August 13th.
Espionage Magazine Remembered - with writer Josh Pachter. (116)
July 17, 2020 22:52 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBOn this episode, Spywrite's Jeff Quest talks with Josh Pachter about the mid eighties digest Espionage Magazine. It was dedicated to doing something we hadn't seen before. Printing short spy fiction. Josh has been a published author since he was 16 years old and had numerous pieces published in that magazine and has had pieces published in various magazines over the years. And to that effect, he's the most recent recipient of the Short Fiction Mystery Society's Golden Derringer. Josh'...
Why Charles McCarry is now one of my favourite spy writers. (115)
July 09, 2020 17:04 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBToday on the Spybrary Spy Book Podcast we decode an extended brush pass transmission sent in by Spybrary listener Chris Lueloff. Chris recently read 3 Charles McCarry novels and shares with us why he is now one of his favourite spy authors.
Spy TV - The Sandbaggers Season 2 Round Table (111)
June 13, 2020 19:50 - 57 minutes - 39.9 MBMore Spy TV round table discussion on the Spybrary Spy Podcast. Our panel is back to run the rule over The Sandbaggers Season 2. Don't forget to check out our earlier episode where we reviewed season one of The Sandbaggers.
Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise with Jason King (and special guest) 114
June 06, 2020 15:36 - 21 minutes - 15 MBToday we decode an extended brush pass transmission sent in by Jason King and a very special guest. Jason gives us the lowdown on Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise
The Rhythm Section with Blake Lively- What did Spybrary Listeners Think of the movie? (113)
May 25, 2020 13:04 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBOn today's Spybrary Spy Podcast, spy fans talk about The Rhythm Section, a movie produced by EON (of James Bond fame) starring Blake Lively and Jude Law. Tune in and listen to Spybrarians Mike, Jon, Matthew and Chris who give you their assessment of The Rhythm Section. Spybrary Spy Podcast host Shane Whaley reads out comments from other Spybrarians (another epic reason to join our Spybrary Listeners Facebook Group) and delivers his verdict on The Rhythm Section.
Spy Graphic Novelist Antony Johnston chats with Jeff Quest (112)
May 20, 2020 15:55 - 1 hour - 39.4 MBAntony Johnston is a bestselling writer and podcaster whose best-known espionage work is The Coldest City, the graphic novel that the movie ATOMIC BLONDE was based on. He has his second book in the Bridgette Sharp spy series, The Tempus Project, coming out at the end of May in the UK and the first book, The Exphoria Code, is currently scheduled to be released in the US in October.
To Tell The Truth Game Show - Espionage edition 110
May 08, 2020 20:15 - 11 minutes - 8.18 MBBrush Pass with Bill Koenig. The long-running U.S. panel show To Tell The Truth had a panel trying to determine who of three people had performed some feat or had some career, etc. At least four times, the show had people who worked in intelligence. One was John Le Carre. Others were Eric Ericsson, who posed as a traitor in World War II and wrote a book called The Counterfeit Traitor. It was made into a movie starring William Holden. Others were Pawal Monat, a Polish spy who defected and ...
The Spy Books of Anthony Price -Brush Pass (109)
May 04, 2020 16:43 - 12 minutes - 8.89 MBKarl Gunnar øen shares his appreciation for the spy books of Anthony Price. He also gives us his recommendation of which of his spy novels should be your first if you are new to Price's work. Karl also reveals some of his favourite Anthony Price books. Show notes at www.spybrary.com/109
Spy TV -The Sandbaggers - Season One - Round Table (108)
April 26, 2020 15:11 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBOn today's Spybrary Spy Podcast, we turn our attention to Spy TV and the British spy tv series The Sandbaggers starring Roy Marsden and created by Ian Mackintosh.
Jeff Gelb pays tribute to Andy East -Spybrarian and Cold War File author who has passed away.
April 16, 2020 19:36 - 7 minutes - 5.21 MBJeff Gelb pays tribute to Andy East, a friend of almost 40 years who has passed away. Andy East loved spy movies, tv and books and wrote The Cold War File. Andy brought a lot of spy fiction knowledge to the Spybrary community and will be sadly missed by us all. Andy East RIP
Mort Drucker and Spy Parodies Remembered (107)
April 15, 2020 23:58 - 10 minutes - 8.05 MBThe Spy Command's Bill Koenig records a Brush Pass following the passing of illustrator Mort Drucker. Bill shares more with us about Mort Drucker's work illustrating James Bond parodies. John le Carre's The Spy Who Came In From The Cold also comes in for the Drucker treatment.
A Man of Some Repute -Brush Pass Review 106
March 22, 2020 18:46 - 16 minutes - 11.9 MBPeter Newman send us in his brush pass review of A Man of Some Repute by Elizabeth Edmondson.
Interview with author of The Contact - Rossa McPhillips (105)
March 06, 2020 20:21 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBAuthor and former member of the Intelligence Corps Rossa McPhillips shares more about his first novel - a spy thriller set in Northern Ireland. Rossa also shares more about his real-life experiences working in the shadows and we put him through his paces in the world-famous Spybrary Quick Fire Round.
Parting Shot by James Kunetka -Brush Pass (104)
March 04, 2020 18:28 - 11 minutes - 8.16 MBMatthew Kresal sends us in his Brush Pass Review of Parting Shot by James Kunetka
Robert Conrad - Where Spies meet Cowboys with Bill Koenig (103)
February 27, 2020 15:29 - 10 minutes - 7.46 MBBill Koenig of The Spy Command records a brush pass following the passing of Robert Conrad. He shares more about the Wild Wild West - where spies meet cowboys
Title Fight! The Good, the Bad and Ugly of Spy Book Titles with Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest. (102)
February 25, 2020 11:59 - 1 hour - 40 MBIn this episode, writer Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of spy book titles. They discuss some of their favorites, alternate titles, translated titles and the many pitfalls authors face when determining a book title.
Agent Molière: The Life of John Cairncross, the Fifth Man of the Cambridge Spy Circle. (101)
February 11, 2020 12:30 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBOn Episode 101 of the Spybrary Podcast, our guest host, journalist and author Michael Smith chats with Geoff Andrew about his new book: Agent Molière: The Life of John Cairncross, the Fifth Man of the Cambridge Spy Circle.
Spybrary at 100. Listeners Call In to Share Why They Love The Spybrary Podcast
February 09, 2020 04:14 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBAs part of the 100th episode celebrations, we invited Spybrary listeners to call in and share with us which authors and books they have discovered because of the Spybrary Podcast.
The Podcaster Who Came In From The Cold. Episode 100
February 08, 2020 23:53 - 1 hour - 53.4 MBNot many podcasts reach Episode 100, let alone a spy podcast. So on this our 100th episode, Spywrite's Jeff Quest turns the tables on Spybrary Spy Podcast Host Shane Whaley. Jeff artfully employs his Sarratt training to put Whaley through a gentle but thorough debrief. Listen to Episode 100 of Spybrary to learn more about the origins of Spybrary, how the podcast is put together, Shane's journey of reading and spy literature and of course there is the quickfire round!
99: Licence Not Renewed. The End of Spybrary
February 03, 2020 14:46 - 6 minutes - 4.7 MBAfter 98 episodes, it comes to this....
Buck Henry, Get Smart and the 1960s spy craze. Brush Pass (98)
January 31, 2020 22:01 - 12 minutes - 8.83 MBBuck Henry, Get Smart and the 1960s spy craze. Brush Pass (98) With the Spy Command's Bill Koenig,
The Best Spy Books I read in 2019 with Spybrary's Jason King (97)
January 12, 2020 17:35 - 57 minutes - 40 MBOn Episode 97 of the Spybrary Podcast, spy book connoisseur Jason King shares with us what were the five best spy book novels he read in 2019. Jason and Spybrary Host Shane Whaley, discuss Jason's five best spy books of 2019, Jason has been reading spy books since the 1960s and admits that he is extremely selective with what he reads.
Spies in Disguise Review. Brush Pass with Jeff and Leo Quest (96)
December 29, 2019 15:42 - 12 minutes - 8.88 MBLeo and Jeff Quest give us their review of Spies in Disguise which is a 2019 American computer-animated spy comedy film. The plot follows a secret agent who is accidentally transformed into a pigeon by an intelligent teenage agent and the pair must work together to stop a cybernetic terrorist who seeks revenge and return him to his human form.
A Small Town In Germany -by John le Carre -Brush Pass (95)
December 21, 2019 20:28 - 6 minutes - 4.66 MBWriter Andy Onyx submits his debut Brush Pass Review. He briefs us with his assessment of John le Carre's Novel A Small Town In Germany.
The story of Leslie Charteris ‐creator of The Saint with Ian Dickerson
December 07, 2019 19:33 - 51 minutes - 35.8 MBOn Episode 94 of the Spybrary Podcast, host Shane Whaley interviews Ian Dickerson, the author of The Saint I Ain't - a biography of Leslie Charteris. In this episode, we cover aspects of Leslie Charteris's life as well as a fan's discussion about Simon Templar, aka The Saint. We chat about The Saint Books, The Saint Movies including the latest reboot Saint movie which was co-produced by Ian Dickerson and starred Adam Rayner. We run the rule over the various actors who have played Simon ...
Agent Running In The Field - John le Carre - Round Table (93)
November 29, 2019 20:49 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBAgent Running In the Field gets the Spybrary deep-dive treatment on Episode 93 of the Spybrary Podcast. joining our John le Carre, Agent Running In The Field Round table is John le Carre fans and spy bloggers Matthew Bradford and Jeff Quest.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Round Table hosted by Bill Koenig (92)
November 23, 2019 20:37 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBOn Episode 92 of the Spybrary Podcast, The Spy Command's Bill Koenig hosts a round table discussion about The Man from U.N.C.L.E. What is The Man From U.N.C.L.E.? September 1964: The world is introduced to the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. It's New York headquarters is behind an ordinary tailor shop. Inside, is one of U.N.C.L.E.'s main command centers. Alexander Waverly, the Number One of Section One, assigns agents to missions. His top operatives are Napoleon Solo and...
Henry Hemming tells us more about the astonishing story of the British spies who set out to draw America into World War II (92)
November 16, 2019 17:50 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBHenry Hemming tells us more about the astonishing story of the British spies who set out to draw America into World War II. As World War II raged into its second year, Britain sought a powerful ally to join its cause-but the American public was sharply divided on the subject. Canadian-born MI6 officer William Stephenson, with his knowledge and influence in North America, was chosen to change their minds by any means necessary. In this extraordinary tale of foreign influence on American...