As seen on the BBC. The go-to community and podcast for spy books and movies. Our mission to help you discover the finest spy fiction and non-fiction books.
Out now on Spybrary!
@monstroso
Charlie Higson, author of the latest
#JamesBond
novel On His Majesty's Secret Service, shares his unique perspective on modernising the iconic agent and explains why the paperback edition, which is out on June 6th, has revised text.
Watch:
I have been fascinated with Kim Philby and the Cambridge spies for longer than I care to remember. So to interview his granddaughter, the author and journalist Charlotte Philby on a panel at the
@EalingBookFest
is absolutely mind blowing. Stil pinching myself. More pics etc
Before starting
#Spybrary
I naively assumed all
#authors
received tons of marketing help from their publishers, I have since learned that is very rarely the case. Ironically it’s those big names who least need the marketing help that actually get it.
To all you authors out
David Cornwell, the British spy better known to the world under his pen name
#JohnleCarr
é, reveals secrets of his extraordinary life in a documentary directed by nonfiction filmmaking legend Errol Morris.
Spy author
@CharlesCumming
is a class act. I bumped into him on Chiswick High St this morning and even though he was out with his young son, he took the time to chat with me. I am happy to report that he is hard at work on the third installment of his Lachlan Kite series.!
Delighted to get my hands on a first edition (US) of Kim Philby’s autobiography billed as ‘The Soviet Master Agent Tells His Own Story’ approved by the KGB of course.
#ColdWar
#KGB
#kimphilby
'My favourite fictional character: George Smiley is unattractive, overweight, a terrible dresser and a better spy than James Bond.'
#JohnleCarr
é
#spybrary
Would you attend an in person event featuring spy writers? I have observed that spy writers tend to get tacked on to crime events and festivals. There is nothing wrong with that but I wonder if there is a desire for a spy only event? Let me know.
Whose funeral is it? Yours! Poor Strutter! Loved this 007 movie when I was a kid, who I am kidding I still love it.
#JamesBond
#NewOrleans
who else is a fan of
#Liveandletdie
Isn’t it great that there are still book covers out there which are new to us? I have not seen this cover before. (Local library book sale). What’s your favourite
#JohnleCarr
è book cover?
#Spybrary
#BookCover
Charles spent two decades working undercover for
#MI6
and I am pleased to report that his book is a must buy for those of us who prefer the more realistic yet thrilling spy novel. More books please
@Cb20226
My review in the first reply.
#Spybrary
#thrillerbooks
What a wonderful surprise to be featured in
@RadioTimes
today. Love the term 'espionage as entertainment', whoever wrote this I owe you drinks at Blades.
What’s everyone reading this weekend? I loved my re read of Ashenden and am now reading this travel/history book, not espionage related but fans of
#ColdWar
history nerds may enjoy it.
#books
#spybrary
An absolute honour that Slow Horses creator Mick Herron and author
@simongconway
attended our
#Spybrary
meetup last night. I thanked them both on your behalf for all their hard work in keeping us entertained. Here’s to many more books (and TV) from them!!
#MickHerron
#SlowHorses
Hot off the press!
@isberryauthor
shares her reaction to winning the prestigious Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author.
Read more:
#spybrary
#Edgars2024
Lots of spy history
@IsokonGallery
Bauhaus Lawn Rd Flats. Once the home of Kim Philby’s recruiter Arnold Deutsch and even Agatha Christie. Well worth a visit.
#bauhaus
#isokon
#spybrary
‘There’s more to life than books you know, but not much more’ My favourite spy series and the inspiration to start the Spybrary Podcast.
#LenDeighton
#Spybrary
This is the best spy book published in 2023 that I have read so far! On Monday, I am chatting with author
@isberryauthor
on the Spybrary Podcast- submit your questions below, and I will do my best to get to them.
#Spybrary
by spy fans for spy fans.
This week the best (for me!) spy writer
#LenDeighton
celebrated his 95th birthday. So my gift to Len is actually cooking one of his recipes from the Action Cook Book!
Beef bourguignon for tea! Who else has this book and has not cooked any recipes from it?
As Kim Philby’s mate Nicholas Elliott once said, never judge a man by his umbrella! Great to be back in Scotland,
#Spybrary
drinks tonight, 7pm Cafe Royal! All welcome.
What’s everyone reading this weekend? I am loving this one by I.S. Barry! If you prefer your spies to use their guile and wits rather than shooters and yeti coffee mugs then this is for you! The author spent six years as an operations officer for the CIA, serving in wartime
Hell of a photo this:
Allbeury, Frederick Forsyth, Gardner, Julian Symons, Miles Tripp, Gavin Lyall and Kingsley Amis). [Middle row:] John Le Carré, Eric Ambler and Lionel Davidson. [Front row:] Anthony Price, H.R.F. (Harry) Keating and Len Deighton.
Today I carried out a mercy mission all Spybrarians would be proud of. Neighbour has read the first Slow Horses book but said he was making a start on London Rules because that was the only other Herron in the library!
#slowhorses
#mickherron
Devastated to read this in Goldfinger! I thought 007 always had impeccable taste. ‘I don’t drink tea. I hate it. It’s mud. Moreover it’s one of the main reasons for the downfall of the British Empire.’
#JamesBond
#tea
Goodbye DDR -Mielke and Freedom, very insightful documentary on the GDR and Stasi. German produced but some kind soul has added English translation subtitles. Well worth a watch
@DeightonDossier
@mcrmilhist
@DDROnline
@HistoryNed
Len Deighton turns 91 tomorrow.
Here is a tribute piece
@JeremyDuns
wrote about
#lendeighton
a few years ago. Happy birthday, Len Deighton: we need you now more than ever.
Unlike the suave and debonair James Bond, Harry Palmer brings a gritty, realistic edge to the spy genre, challenging traditional spy representations with his working-class cunning. Watch Section F decode
#FuneralinBerlin
today!
Are you a fan of FiB?
Chatting espionage with Damian Lewis. He has written a song about
#spies
titled ‘Never Judge a Man by his Umbrella’ which was the title of a book penned by Nicholas Elliot. Damian played Elliot in Spy Among Friends!
#spybrary
Happy Birthday to Mike Ripley, author of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, essential reading for British spy thriller enthusiasts. Who else has this one?
#thrillerbooks
#spybrary
Attention
#spy
thriller fans! Do you want to discover the best spy writers of all time? Look no further than
#Spybrary
's list of the top 125
#authors
, curated by none other than Tim Shipman
@ShippersUnbound
of the Sunday Times. Get insider recommendations on which books to
Feeling a bit lost while trying to choose your first John le Carré novel? Trust me, you're not alone. The sight of bookshelves brimming with
#JohnleCarr
é 's works can be daunting for a newbie. But don't worry, we've got you covered with our
#Spybrary
Firsts' curated list of spy
I must have missed the chapter in Legacy of Spies where Peter Guillam opens a coffee shop in South Kensington. Mind you, I don’t like the look of the scalphunter lurking outside.…
#johnlecarre
This week I finished The Real Special Relationship written by
@MickWSmith
It’s a cracking read and I learned a great deal. Michael has kindly agreed to come and share more on Spybrary but let me say this, Michael writes espionage history in a very accessible fashion. This is no
Mark of a good
#spybook
? Being late for work because I wanted to see how the end of
@CharlesCumming
JUDAS 62 played out! I thoroughly enjoyed Charles's latest in the Lachlan Kyte series. Who else is a fan?
#charlescumming
A question to
#Spybrary
followers, how many of you also read political non fiction books? I am thinking autobiographies, bio, policy, political history/ diaries etc? I am researching an idea I had recently. Thanks in advance.
You can now grab a free copy of Tim's top 125 spy writers list -ranked! This is the 'skinny' version which includes a scannable list with a suggestion from
@ShippersUnbound
on where to start and which
#spybook
is his favorite.
Apparently, it's Spybrary's 007th anniversary on Twitter. Gratitude to all of you who follow and repost our material and a big thanks to those of you who post epic spy/history content here. I learn so much from all of you.
#MyXAnniversary
He is not for everyone but if you like gritty, more realistic spy novels than you can’t go wrong with
#johnlecarre
Here are some of my favourites of his.
#spybrary
Wow, over 7k followers for
#Spybrary
- truly humbled by the support! 🙏 I make an effort to follow back whenever possible, though I steer clear of religious, political and crypto nutters! Life's too short for that kind of drama! Cheers to all! 🥂
Who else buys books thinking that, I will read this one when I retire, next to a roaring fire and a good glass of malt?! To read all the books I am buying I am going to have to live to at least 200!!