SpyMasters

Join Oliver Webb-Carter as he talks to William Boyd, the best-selling novelist, about his new book Gabriel's Moon. Gabriel Dax is a young man in sixties London who becomes drawn into the murky world of espionage. William and Oliver talk about why literary writers are drawn to writing spy novels. They talk about James Bond, and Graham Greene and the art of writing.

Buy the book here.

Follow William Boyd here.

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The inaugural Books of the Year from the Spymasters Podcast. Join your host Antonia Senior as she talks to three special guests about their books of the year.

Oliver Webb-Carter is the Editor of Aspects of History, and the host of our sister podcast, the Aspects of History podcast. https://aspectsofhistory.com/

Paul Burke is the host of the brilliant Crimetimefm podcast, and is writing an encyclopedia of spy fiction, due out in 2025. https://www.crimetime.co.uk/crimetime-fm-the-crime-fiction-interview-podcast/

Thomas Waugh is a writer of contemporary spy thrillers, including the Daniel Ambler series https://www.a's mazon.co.uk/stores/Thomas-Waugh/author/B001HPRLFY?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

The books we discuss on this chat include

Ben Macintyre's The Siege

Henry Hemming's Four Shots in the Night

IS Berry's The Peacock and the Sparrow

David McCloskey's Moscow X

Tim Tate's To Catch a Spy

Nigel West's Classified

Henry Porter's The Enigma Girl

Merle Negate's Honour Among Spies

Mick Heron's The Secret Hours

William Boyd's Gabriel's Moon

Jane Thynne's Midnight in Vienna

Alex Gerlis: Every Spy a Traitor

The conversation covers a range of themes, including character-driven narratives, historical contexts, and the evolution of intelligence writing. Each guest presents their selections, providing insights into the authors' styles and the significance of their works in the genre. In this engaging conversation, the panel delvesinto the intricate world of espionage, exploring the ideological divides between American and Communist perspectives, the moral dilemmas faced by spies, and the complexities of British intelligence secrecy. The discussion also highlights the evolution of spy fiction, particularly in relation to real historical events, and examines modern trends in the genre, culminating in a review of notable spy books.

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Michael Smith, intelligence expert, talks to Oliver Webb-Carter, editor of Aspects of History, about Trump, Foreign Policy and Intelligence.

Michael talks about how the re-election of Trump will effect the special relationship between British and American intelligence services. Oliver and Michael discuss the prospects for the Middle East, Ukraine and more, under the new Trump administration.

Michael is is a British author who specializes in spies and espionage. He is also a former member of the board of the Bletchley Park Trust. Michael has written 16 books, and his most recent is The Real Special Relationship, The True Story of How the British and US Secret Services Work.

Buy the book here

Follow Michael here

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Kevin Riehle is the author of The Russian FSB, A Concise History of the Federal Security Service. Dr Riehle spent 30 years working for the US Government in various intelligence roles before switching to academia.

The Russian FSB is the first English history book to trace the rise of Putin's Security Service. We talk about Putin, corruption and succession. What place does the FSB have in Russian society? How does it install fear? What continuity is there with its famed and feared predecessor, the KGB?

Buy the book here.

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Antonia Senior talks to IS Berry about her debut novel The Peacock and the Sparrow. It has garnered rave reviews, and has won the Edgar Award for best first novel. It's set in Bahrain during the Arab Spring, and follows the misadventures of disillusioned CIA officer Shane Collins.

IS Berry was in the CIA for six years, and she writes with thrilling authenticity about life as a spy. we talk about her leap from spy to writer, about her influenced, and the toll that espionage can take on the soul.

Buy the book here

Follow IS Berry: https://isberry.net/

Follow IS Berry on X: @isberryauthor

Follow spymasters on X: @spymasterspod

Follow Antonia: @tonisenior

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In this episode of the Spymasters podcast, Antonia Senior talks to Alec Marsh, author of the Drabble and Harris series of historical thrillers. The talk ranges from Istanbul, to the peculiar atmosphere of the 1930s, espionage and beyond.

Buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/eoCm7PZ

Follow Alec Marsh: https://www.alecmarsh.co.uk/ on X: @alecmarsh

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The SpyMasters podcasts interviews all the best writers about spying: fact and fiction, historical and contemporary.

In this episode, Antonia Senior talks to the brilliant journalist, writer and documentary maker Tim Tate about the Spycatcher Affair. We talk about the culture of secrecy at MI5, about Thatcher's involvement, about Peter Wright, the molecatcher turned whistleblower.

Buy the book here.

Follow Tim here

Find Spymasters on X @spymasterspod

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Antonia Senior talks to acclaimed novelist Jane Thynne about her new book Midnight in Vienna. Set in London and Vienna in 1938 it follows a young unemployed English tutor called Stella Fry and a disgraced MI5 watcher called Harry Fox, as they unite to investigate the murder of a celebrated detective novelist.

We talk Nazis, the parallels between the 1930s and the present day, and, of course spies.

Buy the book here.

Follow Jane here.

Follow Spymasters on X at @spymasterspod

Follow Antonia Senior on X @tonisenior

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Antonia Senior interviews Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman about their fascinating new book Spycraft. What did it mean to be a spy in Early Modern England? What tips and tricks of the trade were employed against England's enemies?

And who was the mysterious 'Q' of the Elizabethan spy trade?

We talk secret ink, cyphers, and much more

Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/jj62Dzm

Follow the authors on x: @elegantfowl @Misswalsingham

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Spymasters meets Merle Nygate, the author of Honour Among Spies. The second in Merle's books about Eli Amiram, Mossad's top spy runner, it was a Times thriller of the month. Eli is now chief of Mossad's London operation. He needs an audacious coup to cement his position.

Merle and your host, Antonia Senior talk fiction, Mossad and the challenges to writing.

Buy the book: https://amzn.eu/d/iZGaR5b

Follow Merle: @MerleNygate https://merlenygate.com/

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