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STALIN'S APOSTLES: THE CAMBRIDGE FIVE AND THE MAKING OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE
BY ANTONIA SENIOR MAY 26, 2026 PUBLISHER: PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The riveting story of the ring of spies known as the Cambridge Five, who infiltrated the highest levels of the British establishment and helped Stalin cement a half century of Soviet domination over Eastern Europe. The Cambridge Five was the most infamous spy ring in history. Its members—Kim Philby, Anthony Blunt, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, and John Cairncross—met at university, amid the left-wing ferment overtaking British campuses between the World Wars. The Five were soon recruited by Soviet agents and pledged allegiance to Stalin, and each quickly took up a place in the British government. From the 1930s, they funneled top-secret intelligence to the USSR, some so sensitive that their Soviet handlers feared a double cross. Their unmasking in 1951 rocked Britain, helping to end a chummy, boys’ club stranglehold on the country’s institutions of power. But, as Antonia Senior shows, the Five’s treachery had much graver and more devastating consequences across the world. Their work invaluably aided Stalin as he sought to build a Red Empire, condemning millions across Eastern Europe to decades of repression, violence, and death. Rife with code names, smuggled documents, clandestine rendezvous, and copious amounts of gin, Stalin’s Apostles wields impeccable research and storytelling and all the thrilling details and high tragedy of a classic spy thriller.
Indigo / Amazon
“A definitive and important account of the most infamous spy ring ever, the Cambridge Five, who betrayed their country with devastating consequences, told with the propulsive force of a spy novel.”―Joseph Finder, New York Times-bestselling author of The Oligarch’s Daughter “A brilliant book. Deep research and dazzling writing make Stalin’s Apostles an appallingly entertaining read. A definitive work on one of the 20th century’s most treacherous conspiracies.”―Tim Weiner, author of The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century “A tour de force. As elegantly written as it is perspicacious and impeccably researched, Stalin’s Apostles provides a penetrating and timely reassessment of one of the 20th century’s greatest spying scandals, revealing the dark reality behind the Cambridge Five.”―Roger Moorhouse, author of Poland 1939 “Antonia Senior delivers a gripping, beautifully written account of the Cambridge Five, whose betrayal reshaped twentieth-century geopolitics and the course of the Cold War. Equal parts spy novel and sober history, Stalin’s Apostles is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how espionage and ideological zeal can alter the fate of nations.” ―David McCloskey, author of Damascus Station “Extraordinary. Beautifully written, it draws you in from the very first moment. A wonderfully forensic re-examination of the infamous Cambridge Spies and the extent of their betrayal.”―Michael Smith, author of Killer Elite “Antonia Senior has done that rare thing: written an account of the Cambridge Five with a historian’s fidelity to fact and a novelist’s eye for character. Her meticulous research and elegant writing bring to life the story of class-conscious Englishmen whose youthful embrace of Communism led to the twentieth century’s most audacious spy network. It’s a spellbinding tale of espionage, friendship, and betrayal. Brilliant.”―Paul Vidich, author of Beirut Station “Shocking. Gripping. Unputdownable. You thought you knew the Cambridge Five? Think again! Their level of treachery beggars belief, yet the British establishment’s incompetence and cover-up is equally unbelievable.”―Damien Lewis, author of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare “Beautifully written and utterly compelling, Stalin’s Apostles is a brilliant reassessment of the Cambridge Five whose naive faith in communism is tellingly juxtaposed with the brutal reality of Stalin’s rule. Their betrayals had serious consequences for the West, as Senior makes clear, yet they lived out their days in Soviet exile with few regrets. A cautionary tale by a rising star of nonfiction.”―Saul David, author of Operation Thunderbolt “Understanding why the Cambridge spies really betrayed their country has eluded historians for decades. Senior’s new book is impressive in its scope of ground-breaking research and depth of historical context to unpack the motivations of these enigmatic men. A powerful narrative.”―Helen Fry, author of The White Lady “Meticulously researched, this is a fascinating analysis.”―Nigel West, author of A Matter of Trust “This brilliantly told story of treachery at the heart of the British establishment during World War Two and its aftermath reveals for the first time the tragic cost for millions of people and its impact on reshaping the world. Harrowing yet compulsively relevant today, it’s a page-turner.”―Adam Zamoyski, author of Poland
See also: Stalin’s Apostles as reviewed by John Ikenberry for Kirkus Reviews – March 1, 2026
Interview of Antonia Senior by Spy TV – Spybrary host xxxxxx xxxxxx on the Spybrary Podcast on April 23, 2026.
About the book: Stalin's Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire
by Antonia Senior PublicAffairs – 480 pages $25.99 (Kindle) Publication Date: May 26, 2026
About the Author: Antonia Senior
Antonia Senior is a writer, columnist and journalist. She spent thirteen years working at The Times, in a variety of roles including Acting Business Editor. Now freelance, she writes columns, features and book reviews for the national press, including The Times, the Guardian and the Financial Times. Antonia studied history at Cambridge, and has always wanted to write fiction with historical themes.
Biography Credit: Atlantic Books
Book Review / Revue de livres Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement. Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
SEND IT: CANADA'S SNIPERS AT WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
BY GORDON CULLEN & BARRY NISBET WITH MIR BAHMANYAR JULY 15, 2025 PUBLISHER: DOUBLE DAGGER BOOKS
Send It: Canada's Snipers at War in Afghanistan
by Gordon Cullen, Barry Nisbet, Mir Bahmanyar See Through the Scope of Canadian Snipers
Send It is a raw, unfiltered account that takes readers deep into the shadowy world of the Canadian sniper—among the most revered and deadly warriors on the modern battlefield. Through the eyes and voices of a handful of elite soldiers, this book delivers an unparalleled look at what it takes to earn the coveted sniper badge, survive the crucible of combat, and walk the razor’s edge between life and death. From brutal training grounds to the unforgiving terrain of Afghanistan, Send It follows these silent professionals through multiple tours of duty alongside Canadian and U.S. Special Forces. Their missions—precise, lethal, and often shrouded in secrecy—place them at the tip of the spear in the war on terror. But beyond the confirmed kills and enemy engagements lies a more personal story: the fear, adrenaline, purpose, and quiet cost of modern warfare. Told in their own words, Send It is an emotional journey from the first trigger squeeze to the last. It is not just about the making of snipers, but how war remakes the men behind the scope.
Reviews
“The gear, training, excruciating patience, and mental toughness typical of the profession are amply explored, then displayed in adrenaline-pumping scenes of actual combat.” - Jim DeFelice, co-author NY Times #1 best-seller, American Sniper. “A rare look inside the secretive and little understood world of Canada’s military sniper community.” - Jack Murphy, Former Army Ranger and Special Forces, Host of The Team House.
A Canadian sniper team scan the landscape during an Afghan-led operation to arrest suspected Taliban operating in southern Kandahar. (John D. McHugh/AFP/Getty Images)
See also:
Send It - Interview with Send It authors Barry Nisbet and Mir Bahmanyar
About the book: Send It: Canada's Snipers at War in Afghanistan by Gordon Cullen, Barry Nisbet and Mir Bahmanyar Double Dagger Books – 271 pages $9.59 (Kindle) Publication Date: July 15, 2025
About the Author: Gordon Cullen Gordon Cullen, a 28-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces began his career as a soldier with the 1st Battalion the Royal Canadian Regiment with postings to the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, 3rd Battalion the Royal Canadian Regiment and CANSOFCOM. His deployments include two tours to Bosnia, a tour in Kosovo, three tours in Afghanistan and a short deployment to Poland. Gord’s employment with Snipers started as a part of the Sniper Group deployed with 1 RCR in Kosovo but culminated as the Battle Group Master Sniper for Task Force 3-06 and Task Force 1-10 in Afghanistan.
Gord has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for action during combat in Kandahar the Commander CEFCOM Commendation for action during combat in Kandahar and the CIC Commendation as part of the 1 RCR Battle Group during Operation MEDUSA.
Following his retirement from the Canadian Forces, Gord continues to serve the Canadian Armed Forces from the private sector. Gord remains passionate about Canadian Snipers and supporting their continued success as a board member with the Canadian Sniper Association. He continues to reside in the Ottawa Valley with his family.
About the Author: Barry Nisbet Barry C. Nisbet, spent 15 years in the Canadian Army, serving on five overseas tours, three of them in Afghanistan. He held many qualifications within the military including, US Army Ranger, Reconnaissance Patrolmen, Parachutist, and Advanced Sniper. He draws on his training and operational experience to share an authentic perspective of combat.
About the Author: Mir Bahmanyar Mir Bahmanyar served in the Second Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as a machine gunner and Training NCO. He holds a BA in History from University of California at Berkeley and an MA in War Studies from King's College London.
His jobs have included that of a library clerk, janitor, retail merchant, military technical advisor, German language coach, producer and writer in Hollywood. He has written numerous books and articles from ancient history to modern war and his work has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Polish and Arabic. His special interests are the Punic Wars, WWII Darby's Rangers and Future War. He grew up on three continents and four countries.
https://www.mirbahmanyar.com
THE DEFECTOR: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE KGB AGENT WHO EXPOSED THE CIA AND SAVED MI5
BY RICHARD KERBAJ APRIL 28, 2026 PUBLISHER: HARPER COLLINS
The Defector is the untold story of how the defection of KGB agent Oleg Lyalin led to the expulsion of more than a hundred Soviet spies from Britain.
At the heart of Lyalin’s story is a narrative entwined with lies, disinformation, Kremlin deception campaigns, paranoia, intelligence failures by the CIA and MI5, and a tangled love life.
Unravelling amidst a Soviet mission to plant fake Kremlin ‘defectors’ within British and American intelligence agencies, this story reveals how the secrets Lyalin divulged, resulted in one of the most dramatic and pivotal moments in the Cold War.
Lyalin led MI5 to rethink its relationship with the CIA and, ultimately, helped destroy the reputation of the US agency’s head of counterintelligence, James Jesus Angleton.
Drawing on newly declassified intelligence files, dozens of interviews with spymasters, and told in full here for the first time by one of Britain’s leading commentators on national security, this story reveals how during the darkest moments of the Cold War one of the West’s greatest achievements transpired as a result of MI5’s break with the CIA.
The disclosure of the inside story of this historic event also comes at a time when there is a renewed tension in the relationship between transatlantic spy services – from the intelligence they share or hold back, to the way they respond to their political masters and stand up to threats from Russia.
Reviews:
"An absolutely thrilling read, based on deep research, which brings this MI5 asset’s importance to life" - Gordon Corera, co-host of The Rest is Classified
“One of the most sensational episodes of the Cold War.” - Sunday Times (London)
“Dynamic and vivid…. Kerbaj skillfully makes major figures of the Cold War cloak-and-dagger operations come to life.” - Dr. Filip Kovacevic, author of KGB Literati: Spy Fiction and State Security in the Soviet Union
“The Defector reads like le Carré but uncovers important truths that are being played out in Putin’s Russia today.” - –Robert Verkaik, bestselling author of The Traitor of Colditz
The Defector as reviewed by Tim Willasey-Wilsey for The Cipher Brief – January 6, 2026
KGB spy Oleg Lyalin, pictured partying in London in 1969, was regularly seen at late-night bashes and had multiple girlfriends on the go. Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
About the book: The Defector: The Untold Story of the KGB Agent who Exposed the CIA and Saved MI5 by Richard Kerbaj
Harper Collins - 356 pages $17.99 (Kindle)
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
About the Author: Richard Kerbaj Richard Kerbaj is a BAFTA-winning and two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker and writer who has specialised in investigating crime and national security-related stories for 15 years.
His first film, My Son the Jihadi, won four awards, including the 2016 BAFTA for best single documentary, and was nominated for an International Emmy and a Prix Italia.
His second film, Hunting the KGB Killers, was a critically acclaimed documentary for Channel 4 on Scotland Yard’s investigation into the murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.
HBO commissioned Richard to write and produce Unmasking Jihadi John: Anatomy of a Terrorist - a feature documentary which was released on its platform in July 2019. It was recognised for multiple awards, including BAFTA and Emmy nominations for best current affairs.
Richard is also a multi-award winning print journalist who who began his career in Australia, working on a range of broadsheets, including The Australian newspaper. During his time on the paper, he won Young Journalist of The Year and Journalist of The Year in 2007. He then migrated to Britain in 2008 to work as an investigative reporter and foreign correspondent for The Times of London. In 2010, Richard moved to The Sunday Times and became the newspaper's security correspondent. He jointly won the Scoop of the Year at the British National Press Awards in 2018.
In October 2020, Richard left full time newspaper journalism to focus on filmmaking and writing. Biography Credit: C&W (Conville & Walsh)
FALLOUT; EXPOSING AN ATOMIC SPY
BY DAVID TREMAIN APRIL 9, 2026 PUBLISHER: PEN AND SWORD
Book Review: Fallout; Exposing an Atomic Spy
by David Tremain A study of the Gouzenko Affair, revealing early Cold War espionage, nuclear secrets, and political consequences.
Shortly after the end of the Second World War, on 5 September 1945, an event occurred which would allegedly mark the beginning of the Cold War. A young cipher clerk working for the GRU, Soviet military intelligence, defected to the West, bringing with him a raft of documents and exposing a large spy network on both sides of the Atlantic. At first, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King, was loathe to react, fearing that any action taken by his government might spark a Third World War with the Soviets. Igor Gouzenko revealed that a British nuclear physicist, Alan Nunn May, who had worked on the Tube Alloys/Manhattan Project, was part of that spy network and had passed on secrets about the atomic bomb to the Russians.
It would cause a rift in US-British relations and lead to the so-called 'McMahon Act' whereby Britain, and therefore Canada, were excluded from further collaboration in developing atomic research. It also led to a Canadian Royal Commission to investigate the extent to which spies had penetrated the Canadian government and what information they had passed on. Gouzenko and his family lived under witness protection in fear of assassination from the KGB, while Alan Nunn May, on his return to the UK, was tried and convicted of espionage. When he was released from prison in 1952, he had problems finding employment. When he died, he still firmly believed that what he had done had been justified.
This book examines the 'Gouzenko Affair' and corrects some of the myths surrounding his story. It also considers the case against Nunn May, his associates, and his life as a convicted but unapologetic spy..
About the book: Fallout; Exposing An Atomic Spy by David Tremain Pen and Sword – 288 pages 51.50 (Hardcover) Publication Date: April 9, 2026
About the Author: David Tremain David Tremain was born in the UK and studied art at Medway College of Design, Rochester, Kent and paper conservation at Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts. This was followed by work at a London art gallery and in Reading. He later emigrated to Ottawa, Canada, and retired from public service in 2010. He has written book reviews for the Canadian Association for Security & Intelligence Studies (CASIS) and is an expert on Second World War spy cases. He has published five books on the subject: Rough Justice (2016), Double Agent Victoire (2018), The Beautiful Spy (2019), Agent Provocateur for Hitler or Churchill? (2021) and Double Agent Balloon (2023).
WHY NATIONS STILL FIGHT
BY RICHARD NED LEBOW JANUARY 6, 2026 PUBLISHER: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Drawing on an original data set of interventions and wars from 1945 to the current day, as well as numerous short case studies, Richard Ned Lebow offers a novel account of their origins and outcomes – one that emphasises miscalculation, failure to conduct meaningful risk assessments, and cultural and political arrogance.
In a successive work to Why Nations Fight (2010), he explains why initiators routinely lose militarily and politically when they resort to force, as well as accounting for why the great powers, in particular, have not learned from their failures. Lebow offers both type- and region-specific forecasts for the future likelihood of interventions and wars. His account reveals the inapplicability of theories nested in the realist and rationalist paradigms to the study of war. He argues what is needed instead is an “irrationalist” theory, and he takes the initial steps in this direction.
'In everything he writes, Richard Ned Lebow combines a deep commitment to a better, more peaceful world, with meticulous research, great erudition and careful argument. 'Why Nations Still Fight' explains both why wars so often fail to achieve their aims, yet governments still resort to them.' Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus professor of War Studies, King's College London 'Richard Ned Lebow has studied war and peace for over half a century. 'Why Nations Still Fight' builds on that remarkable scholarly edifice to present a global rethinking of the causes of war. Studying all wars since 1945, Lebow develops a new and unique typology and offers distinct findings and arguments about each kind. The true tragedy of most wars, he argues, is their fundamental irrationality. Still, Lebow offers reasons to hope that humans can rise to the challenge of overcoming the biases, miscalculation and hubris that push leaders toward tragically counterproductive bellicosity.' William C. Wohlforth, Daniel Webster Professor, Dartmouth College 'Direct warfare between states seems to have declined, particularly in the developed world. However, Lebow finds in this thoughtful, engaging, provocative, and well-researched book that states around the world are still willing to use armed force in wars and especially in interventions. He details 88 instances since World War II - about one a year - all but 7 in what used to be called the Third World. What is particularly impressive is that this happens even though the efforts mostly fail to achieve their military, and especially their political, goals. In the process he details case after case of chronic self-delusion and miscalculation by initiators.' John Mueller, Ohio State University, Cato Institute and author of The Stupidity of War: American Foreign Policy and the Case for Complacency.
See also: Why Nations Still Fight as reviewed by John Ikenberry for Foreign Affairs – May June 2026
About the book: Why Nations Still Fight
by Richard Ned Lebow Cambridge University Press – 480 pages $51.95 (Kindle) Publication Date: January 6, 2026
About the Author: Richard Ned Lebow
Dr Richard Ned Lebow is an Emeritus Professor of International Political Theory in the Department of War Studies, King's College London and James O. Freedman Presidential Emeritus Professor at Dartmouth College. He is also a Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge. He has taught strategy and the National and Naval War Colleges and served as a scholar-in-residence in the Central Intelligence Agency during the Carter administration.
Dr Lebow has held visiting appointments at the University of Lund, Sciences Po, University of Cambridge, Austrian Diplomatic Academy, Vienna, London School of Economics and Political Science, Australian National University, University of California at Irvine, University of Milano, University of Munich and the Frankfurt Peace Research Institute. He has authored and edited 40 books and nearly 300 peer reviewed articles and book chapters. He is a Fellow of the British Academy.
Biography Credit: King’s College London
THE ELEMENTS OF POWER: A STORY OF WAR, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE DIRTIEST SUPPLY CHAIN ON EARTH
BY NICHOLAS NIARCHOS JANUARY 20, 2026 PUBLISHER: PENGUIN PRESS
Epic, shocking, and deeply reported, The Elements of Power tells the story of the war for the global supply of battery metals—essential for the decarbonization of our economies—and the terrible, bloody human cost of this badly misunderstood industry Congo is rich. Swaths of the war-torn African country lack basic infrastructure, and, after many decades of colonial occupation, its people are officially among the poorest in the world. But hidden beneath the soil are vast quantities of cobalt, lithium, copper, tin, tantalum, tungsten, and other treasures. Recently, this veritable periodic table of resources has become extremely valuable because these metals are essential for the global “energy transition”—the plan for wealthy nations to wean themselves off fossil fuels by shifting to sustainable forms of energy, such as solar and wind. The race to electrify the world’s economy has begun, and China has a considerable head start. From Indonesia to South America to Central Africa, Beijing has invested in mines and infrastructure for decades. But the U.S. has begun fighting back with massive investments of its own, as well as sanctions and disruptive tariffs.
In this rush for green energy, the world has become utterly reliant on resources unearthed far away and willfully blind to the terrible political, environmental, and social consequences of their extraction. If the Democratic Republic of the Congo possesses such riches, why are its children routinely descending deep into treacherous mines to dig with the most rudimentary of tools, or in some cases their bare hands? Why are Indonesia’s seas and skies being polluted in a rush for battery metals? Why is the Western Sahara, a source for phosphates, still being treated like a colony? Who must pay the price for progress?
With unparalleled, original reporting, Nicolas Niarchos reveals how the scramble to control these metals and their production is overturning the world order, just as the global race to drill for oil shaped the twentieth century. Exploring the advent of the lithium-ion battery and tracing the supply chain for its production, Niarchos tells the story both of the people driving these tectonic changes and those whose lives are being upended. He reveals the true, devastating consequences of our best intentions and helps us prepare for an uncertain future. If you have ever used a smartphone or driven an electric vehicle, you are implicated.
“In another era, when oil was the undisputed lubricant of global capitalism, the economic historian Daniel Yergin charted the intersection of business and geopolitics in his 1992 Pulitzer-winning classic The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power. In 2026, Nicolas Niarchos, a journalist specializing in energy and mining, attempts something similar for the age of batteries. Mostly he succeeds. The Elements of Power cuts like a fast-paced action film from battery labs in California, Tokyo, and the backstreets of Shenzhen . . . to mines in Africa and elsewhere where a combination of powerful companies, hucksters and mostly downtrodden miners scrabble for the minerals needed to power the energy transition.” —David Pilling, Financial Times “Nicolas Niarchos exposes how the metal cobalt gets from the mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the battery factories of China and into the electric vehicles that purr along our streets—and who profits . . . The book is a serious exposé . . . Niarchos traces the webs of multibillion-dollar international deals that enmesh Congo’s cobalt mines and juxtaposes this material, painfully, with boots-on-the-ground descriptions of Congolese lives.” —The Times (UK) “This is a bold and original book, a deep exploration of the way in which the batteries powering our most antiseptic seeming technologies—smartphones and electric cars—are connected to a world of conflict and predation. Drawing on his own dauntless reporting in over a dozen countries, Nicolas Niarchos distills this complex subject, finding its dramatic essence—a tale of rapacious colonialism, Cold War spy games, dazzling technical innovation, big business rivalry, big power geopolitics, and incalculable (and ongoing) human cost. By connecting Congo's present to its past and future, and tracing the links in the supply chain to demonstrate the way in which this story morally implicates us all, Niarchos has produced an unflinching, landmark work on the nature of extractive capitalism.” —Patrick Radden Keefe, New York Times best-selling author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing “With forensic research and vivid reporting, Niarchos unpacks the dirty paradox of clean energy: a technology celebrated as the key to a sustainable future, yet one that exacts a devastating human and environmental cost in Congo. Expansive and eye-opening, it is essential reading for our age.” —Clarissa Ward, author of On All Fronts “In this fascinating book, The Elements of Power, Nicolas Niarchos tells how the convulsed history of the Congo and its strategic minerals have played a vital role in fueling today’s Big Tech revolution. In a cruel paradox, Congo’s role as a key provider of the minerals that are helping drive the world’s energy transition—the lithium-ion battery—has also condemned it to inequality, social instability and seemingly endless cycles of armed conflict. This disturbing reality is one of the epic stories of our time, and Niarchos tells it skillfully, with narrative verve, keen insights, and an admirable attention to factual detail. That he has done so after years of firsthand research that included dangerous field forays in the Congo is an accomplishment that deserves high praise. The Elements of Power is, quite simply, a firecracker of a book, a must-read for anyone seeking clarity in the murk of today’s world.” —Jon Lee Anderson, author of To Lose a War: The Fall and Rise of the Taliban “What begins as a book about batteries becomes a riveting journey through lithium-ion technology and its global consequences. From colonial Congo to Cold War rivalries to China’s rise, it reveals how genius, ambition, and exploitation built the supply chains powering our devices, cars, and life-saving medical tools. Fair, compelling, and meticulously researched, it captures both the promise and the human cost of the battery revolution. Essential reading for anyone interested in technology, politics, and the forces shaping our future.“ —Mohamedsalem Werad, editor and cofounder, Sahrawi Voice
See also: The Elements of Power as reviewed by Zachariah Mampilly for Foreign Affairs – March April 2026
A Congolese artisanal miner digs in an open-pit mine, in Mangaredjipa near Beni, North Kivu province in the DRC August 31, 2025 [Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/Reuters]
About the book: The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth
by Nicholas Niarchos Penguin Press – 480 pages $18.99 (Kindle) Publication Date: January 20, 2026
About the Author: Nicholas Niarchos
Nicolas Niarchos is a journalist whose work focuses on energy, war, and migration. His work has been published in The New Yorker, The Nation, and The New York Times. He has testified on the effects of Congolese battery metal mining on Capitol Hill. His work on mining in Indonesia was shortlisted for a 2024 Livingston Award. In 2023, he won an Edward R. Murrow Award for a radio report from Ukraine for The New Yorker and WNYC.
Biography Credit: Penguin Press
TRADECRAFT, TACTICS, AND DIRTY TRICKS: RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE AND PUTIN'S SECRET WAR
BY SEAN M. WISWESSER MAY 1, 2026 PUBLISHER: NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS
Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin's Secret War
by Sean M. Wisswesser Step into the covert world of Russian espionage with this revealing insider’s account of how the Russian Intelligence Services (RIS) operate across the globe. Drawing on years of CIA field experience, Sean M. Wiswesser exposes the tactics, tradecraft, and mindset of the RIS—making this a must-read for anyone fascinated by spies, sabotage, and the high-stakes intelligence war between Russia and the West.
Unmask the shadowy world of Russian espionage with this riveting exploration of the Russian Intelligence Services (RIS) and their global clandestine operations. With decades of experience as a CIA operations officer, author Sean M. Wiswesser takes readers deep into the heart of Maskirovka—the Russian art of denial, deception, and manipulation. Using historical examples and firsthand accounts, this book reveals the tactics employed by the three main services of Russia’s intelligence apparatus: the SVR, GRU, and FSB. Learn about the RIS’ use of double agents, surveillance, and “street work,” honeytraps, sabotage, active measures, assassinations, the RIS roles in the Russo-Ukraine War, and much more.
Wiswesser’s unparalleled expertise comes from years of sitting across from Russian intelligence officers, operating overseas, and using their own methods against them. As a member of the CIA’s expert cadre in the Directorate of Operations, he worked closely with the U.S. intelligence community and foreign allies, gaining a unique perspective on the RIS’ global reach. Now, he shares that knowledge in a candid, plain-speaking style designed to inform and galvanize readers from all walks of life.
This book is more than an exposé—it’s a toolkit for understanding and countering the RIS’ manipulative tactics. Wiswesser breaks down ten key elements of their tradecraft, offering invaluable insights to intelligence professionals, academics, business leaders, NGO workers, and private citizens alike. With a deep grounding in Russian language, culture, and intelligence traditions, he provides readers with the context they need to grasp the RIS’ methods and motivations.
Written for the general reader, this compelling account combines expert analysis with real-world stories, making it both accessible and deeply informative. Whether you’re a practitioner in the field or simply curious about the world of espionage, the author’s narrative will open your eyes to the global threat posed by Russian intelligence and equip you with the knowledge to recognize and resist their tactics. Prepare to be captivated, informed, and empowered.
"The crisp 200-page result is engagingly written, with a dose of modesty unusual in a profession notorious for its boastfulness." — Foreign Policy
"Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin’s Secret War is well written, informative, and entertaining to read. It should be on the professional reading list of defense leaders, Russia specialists, enthusiasts, and those considering a career in the IC. It would also be an excellent addition to undergraduate and graduate school syllabi for courses on intelligence or Russian history." —Parameters
"Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks is a fascinating story of Russian spycraft that details the double agents, honey traps, and murders that have marked Soviet and now Russian foreign policy for decades. Sean Wiswesser spent his CIA career studying, teaching, and confronting Russian spies all over the globe; in his book on Russian intelligence, he spills the beans on what Russian spies did and do, to challenge freedom and the West. Hard to put down, and harder to forget when falling asleep at night."—John Nagl, author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam
"Sean Wiswesser has written the rare book that pairs rigorous tradecraft insight with lived experience. Drawing on decades countering Russia’s services, he maps how espionage, disinformation, and corruption actually work, and how to blunt them. The Ukraine case study is especially clarifying, but it’s the human stories that stay with you. Essential reading for practitioners, policymakers, and citizens alike who want to understand (and perhaps resist) Putin’s secret war."—Jennifer Ewbank, former Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation
"Sean Wiswesser’s personal reminiscences about encounters with Russian officers add authenticity to his narrative that is rare in books about Russian intelligence. His career as an operations officer lays a credible foundation for his interpretation and critique of Russian operations. Sean’s experiences allow him to give personal tribute to several Soviet and Russian defectors with whom he worked, introducing readers to otherwise unknown people who supported U.S. intelligence in the 1990s and 2000s."—Kevin Riehle, Lecturer in Intelligence and International Security, Brunel University London
"Sean Wiswesser lifts the lid on the inner workings of the Russian security services. This is not a detached, scholarly account, but a plain-spoken, deeply authoritative, and often humorous exposé of an implacable foe by an experienced officer possessing a rare combination of Russia-oriented tradecraft, language, and cultural skills. Readers will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the dangers and weaknesses of these organizations, so reflective of the tragic paradox of Russia itself."—Gregory Sims, former CIA Station Chief
“This is an excellent book about the Russian Intelligence Services and the threat they pose to the West. It is informative, approachable and compelling, containing many illustrative examples from the author’s career. Written by a true expert, it should be mandatory reading for everyone in the U.S. Intelligence Community. Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks will be useful to experts but it is written with a style and clarity that recommend it to the interested citizen.”—Rob Dannenberg, former CIA Central Eurasia Division Chief and Chief of Russian Operations
“If you don’t understand the Russian intelligence and security services, you simply can’t understand Russia. In Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks, Russian intelligence and Putin’s Secret War Sean Wiswesser richly and perceptively illustrates the root cause of Russian aggression, oppression, and destruction in the 21st Century – the unchanging nature and powerful influence of the modern Russian heirs of the Soviet KGB. Filled with authoritative and compelling detail, welcome clarity, and insightful nuance, Wiswesser’s book is required reading for any policymaker, intelligence officer, academic, or businessman dealing with Russian issues.” — Paul Kolbe, former Chief CIA Central Eurasia Division, Senior Fellow at Harvard Belfer Center Intelligence Project
"Wiswesser's book is an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the tradecraft utilized by what remain our most professionally skilled intelligence adversaries: the Russian foreign intelligence and security services. It provides unique insight into the history, cultures, and operations of the organizations that undergird the Putin regime and should be mandatory reading, not only for intelligence professionals, but also for any American interested in the security of our country." — Mark Kelton, former CIA Chief of Counterintelligence
“Wiswesser’s book will surely become an essential resource for national security professionals, students of the Russian government, and citizens interested in international affairs. Perhaps more importantly, it may serve as a primer for future FBI and intelligence officials.” — SpyTalk
See also: Tradecraft, Tactics and Dirty Tricks as reviewed by Joseph Augustyn for The Cipher Brief – April 9, 2026
Tradecraft, Tactics and Dirty Tricks as reviewed by Thomas W. Spahr for US Army War College – March 18, 2026
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov attend an expanded meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow on December 17, 2025.
Photo by Kristina Kormilitsyna / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
About the book: Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin's Secret War by Sean M. Wiswesser Naval Institute Press – 288 pages $40.79 (Kindle) Publication Date: May 1, 2026
About the Author: Sean M. Wiswesser
Sean M. Wiswesser is a veteran national security professional with thirty years of experience in intelligence, foreign service, and defense. A former senior operations officer with the Central Intelligence Agency, he served multiple overseas tours—including in war zones—and held senior leadership positions such as Chief of Station and in joint-duty assignments across the intelligence community. Sean is recognized internationally as a lecturer and public speaker, addressing audiences in the United States and abroad on intelligence, Russian espionage tradecraft, and global security affairs. He is the author of the forthcoming book Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin’s Secret War (Spring 2026), which examines the evolution of Russia’s intelligence services, their fight against the West, and their role in modern hybrid warfare. A Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Sean earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Russian & Slavic Linguistics. He received a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College (2023), where he was awarded the Russia Integrated Deterrence Award for his thesis—later published in the UK’s Journal of Small Wars. His work has also appeared in collaborative volumes with the Army War College Press and Routledge Publishing.
Biography Credit: U.S. Naval Institute
FAKERS: A TOP-SECRET TALE OF PHANTOMS AND FORGERIES ON THE DISINFORMATION FRONT LINE BY RORY CORMAC MAY 14, 2026 PUBLISHER: OUP OXFORD
Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line
by Rory Cormac Intrigue, espionage, and deception. The truth behind 8,000 once top-secret files, so explosive their authors never dreamed they would be released. Fakers reveals the rise and fall of the mavericks running Britain's Cold War forgery empire. Their secret mission was audacious: to disrupt and discredit adversaries across the world using phantom groups, fake sources, and counterfeit documents. The leader was a remarkable character, wrestling with personal and professional dilemmas: Hans Welser. An Austrian refugee and one-time MI5 suspect interned behind barbed wire, Welser was a great survivor who rose to become special operations adviser to the Foreign Office, working hand in glove with MI6. His second in command was an eccentric, hard drinking, and high-flying journalist-turned-propagandist called John Rayner. Brought out of semi-retirement, for one final posting. Their team of bowler-hatted refugees, voluble ex-journalists, trailblazing women, and licentious literary sorts navigated loyalty and betrayal — both professionally and romantically — from the diplomats' attic, in the most sensitive part of the Foreign Office's secret propaganda department. The newly declassified files expose an array of plots, some comically absurd and others dangerously controversial. The forgery empire impersonated everything from hippies and ghosts to Islamists and ballet composers in their campaign to smear hostile politicians, stir tensions among adversaries, and even stymie the career of a contentious British historian. All took place against a high stakes backdrop — both overseas as states competed beneath the looming threat of nuclear war and in the corridors of power at home where grey-suited bureaucrats circled, keen to shut down the team for good. With timely insight into how propaganda works and how to respond to disinformation, Fakers is a thrilling journey into a secret world where nothing was as it seemed.
Amazon
“A fun and fascinating dive into the deep history of propaganda and fakery – including its absurdities – which has shaped our world today.” Gordon Corera, author of The Spy in the Archive "Fascinating, evocative and timely. A thoroughly researched, entertaining, and brilliantly enlightening read." ― Danny Wallace, author of Somebody Told Me “A world where Monty Python meets Le Carré, with a revelation on every page that will transform how you see our history.” – Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is Not Propaganda
About the book: Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line by Rory Cormac OUP Oxford – 368 pages 33.46 (Kobo) Publication Date: May 14, 2026 (available for pre-purchase)
About the Author: Rory CormacRory Cormac is a Professor of International Relations specialising in the study of Covert Action and Secret Statecraft.
His most recent book is How to Stage A Coup and Ten Other Lessons from the World of Secret Statecraft . The CIA's in-house journal described it as "a valuable and thought-provoking work, the most thorough treatment of the topic to date." International Affairs called it "an important public service".
Alongside Richard J. Aldrich, he has researched and fronted three documentaries for Channel 4: Spying on the Royals (2017), D-Day: The King who Fooled Hitler (2019) and The Queen and the Coup (2020).
He has appeared at the Hay, Cheltenham and Edinburgh Literary Festivals, and regularly features in national and international media outlets. Most recently he has been a semi-regular columnist on secret statecraft for the Spectator.
Rory has provided oral evidence to parliamentary inquiries on foreign interference in both the UK and Australia. He has spoken at the UK Cabinet Office Foreign Office, Home Office, Number 10 and Ministry of Defence, as well as at the US State Department and Pentagon, NATO and the Italian Foreign Ministry.
Rory is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has held Leverhulme and AHRC fellowships. Before joining Nottingham, Rory worked at the University of Warwick and King's College London. Biography Credit: University of Nottingham
THE TRAITORS CIRCLE: THE TRUE STORY OF A SECRET RESISTANCE NETWORK IN NAZI GERMANY—AND THE SPY WHO BETRAYED THEM – BERLIN'S ELITE DEFYING TYRANNY IN 1943
BY JONATHAN FREEDLAND OCTOBER 28, 2025 PUBLISHER: HARPER
The Traitors Circle: The True Story of a Secret Resistance Network in Nazi Germany—and the Spy Who Betrayed Them – Berlin's Elite Defying Tyranny in 1943
by Jonathan Freedland
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Escape Artist, an extraordinary true story of resistance, heroism and betrayal.
When the whole world is lying, someone must tell the truth.
Berlin, 1943: A group of high society anti-Nazi dissenters meet for a tea party one late summer’s afternoon. They do not know that, sitting around the table, is someone poised to betray them all to the Gestapo.
They form a circle of unlikely rebels, drawn from the German elite: two countesses, a diplomat, an intelligence officer, an ambassador’s widow and a pioneering head mistress. What unites every one of them is a shared loathing of the Nazis, a refusal to bow to Hitler and the courage to perform perilous acts of resistance: meeting in the shadows, rescuing Jews or plotting for a future Germany freed from the Führer's rule. Or so they believe.
How did a group of brave, principled rebels, who had successfully defied Adolf Hitler for more than a decade, come to fall into such a lethal trap?
Undone from within and pursued to near-destruction by one of the Reich’s cruelest men, they showed a heroism in the face of the most vengeful regime in history that raises the question: what kind of person does it take to risk everything and stand up to tyranny?
A True Story of Espionage and Betrayal: Based on meticulous research, this account reveals the real-life spies and traitors at the heart of an anti-Nazi movement, culminating in a fateful tea party.
"An engrossing narrative . . . . a spellbinding account” ⎯ The Wall Street Journal
"Extraordinarily cinematic . . . . Freedland makes his narrative into a tense cat-and-mouse game, pitting sadistic Nazi apparatchiks and their unsavory minions against prey whose considerable resources, privileged sense of entitlement, and sheer moxie give them a fighting chance. It’s a thrilling account of the struggle against Nazism at its most up-close and nerve-wracking." - Publishers Weekly
“Vivid portraits of a group of admirable anti-Nazis . . . excellent history of heroes who defied Hitler.” - Kirkus Reviews
"Magnificent . . . . The book’s set-up—clear location, colourful characters, clandestine villain—is very much that of a thriller, and Freedland . . . writes with verve and pace . . . . It’s testament to Freedland’s skill that if you go in blind you will be not only trying to work out who the mole is ahead of time, but also desperately hoping that it won’t be one of those characters who you’ve admired and rooted for." - Telegraph (UK)
"In this absolutely riveting book, Freedland shines a light on a little-known yet vitally important part of WWII history . . . . Freedland . . . is a wonderful storyteller; this is no dry recitation of historical facts, but a gripping, true-to-life thriller,full of suspense, intrigue, and beautifully described real-life characters. A must-read for devotees of WWII-era nonfiction." – Booklist
"An astonishing true story of courage, love and betrayal, told with the verve of a thriller. Freedland is a master at weaving spellbinding entertainments drawn from forgotten corners of history." - Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horsess
"In this excellent new book, Jonathan Freedland tells a gripping story but also asks a timely question: Why do some people collaborate? Why do others fight tyrants? The Traitors Circle is both history and parable, perfect reading for this moment." - Anne Applebaum, author of Autocracy Inc.
"Haunting and heart-poundingly suspenseful—an extraordinary exploration of moral courage in a world overwhelmed by Nazi darkness. Freedland’s passionate narrative takes us into secret and sometimes surprising corners of Hitler’s Germany. In those shadows of vicious totalitarianism and betrayal—and facing the abyss of the Holocaust—is a circle of friends who embody unwavering human decency and faith and love. Freedland’s powerful storytelling has intense resonance in today’s darkening world. The moral questions are eternal.' - Sinclair McKay, bestselling author of Dresden
The Traitor’s Circle as reviewed by Susan Gorgioski for The Cipher Brief – October 28, 2025
The Traitor’s Circle as reviewed by Linda Hitchcock for Book Trib – February 4, 2026
About the book: The Traitors Circle: The True Story of a Secret Resistance Network in Nazi Germany—and the Spy Who Betrayed Them – Berlin's Elite Defying Tyranny in 1943 by Jonathan Freedland Harper – 428 pages 14.99 (Kobo) Publication Date: October 28, 2025
About the Author: Jonathan Freedland
Jonathan Freedland is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster. He writes a weekly column for The Guardian and is the presenter of BBC Radio 4′s contemporary history series, "The Long View." He also writes a monthly piece for the Jewish Chronicle and is a regular contributor to a range of US publications, including The New York Times, The New York Review of Books and The New Republic. In 2008 he was awarded the David Watt Prize for Journalism, having been named ‘Columnist of the Year’ in the What the Papers Say awards for 2002, where the judges praised him for his “incisive, original, strong and very outspoken views”.
He is the author of seven books, two of them non-fiction under his own name. The first, BRING HOME THE REVOLUTION, was both acclaimed, winning a Somerset Maugham Award, and controversial: it argued that Britain was in dire need of a constitutional and cultural overhaul, one that could learn much from America. The book was later adapted into a TV series for BBC Two. In 2005, he published JACOB'S GIFT, a memoir telling the stories of three generations of his own family, as well as exploring wider questions of identity and belonging.
Since 2006 he has published five best-selling novels under the pseudonym Sam Bourne. The first, THE RIGHTEOUS MEN, became a Number One bestseller in the UK and went on to win a Gold Book Award after selling more than 500,000 copies. It has been translated into 30 languages. That was followed by THE LAST TESTAMENT (2007), THE FINAL RECKONING (2008), THE CHOSEN ONE (2010) and PANTHEON (2012).
Before 1997, Jonathan served for four years as The Guardian’s Washington Correspondent and the US remains an area of specialist interest, along with the politics of Britain and the Middle East. Earlier in his career, he worked as a reporter for The Washington Post, for BBC News – chiefly for Radio 4′s Today and World at One programmes but also for Radio 1′s Newsbeat --- and for the Sunday Correspondent newspaper. In 1998 he was the presenter of the short-lived Channel 4 series, "Zeitgeist."
He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford --- where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and edited the university newspaper, Cherwell --- and, earlier, at University College School, London.
Biography Credit: Bookreporter
AI, Automation, and War: The Rise of a Military-Tech Complex
by Anthony king Why AI will not replace human strategic judgement in war Is AI about to automate war? Will autonomous drone swarms and killer robots controlled by AI dominate the battlespace and determine the winner? In AI, Automation, and War, Anthony King debunks this science fiction–tinged narrative of AI’s military potential, exploring instead the actual applications of AI by the armed forces over the last decade. He finds that AI is not going to replace human commanders and combatants; the machines are not about to take over. Rather, the military has used, and will continue to use, AI to process data at a scale and speed that exceeds the capacity of humans. AI will be used primarily to improve military understanding and intelligence. King explains that military commanders, enabled by the data processing power of AI, will be able to see the battlespace at a previously unattainable depth, fidelity, and speed. AI will help the armed forces plan, target, and conduct cyber operations faster and more effectively. In order to harness AI in this way, however, a radical organisational transformation is taking place. The armed forces are integrating civilian technologists into operational headquarters to work alongside military staff. This partnership between the armed forces and the technology sector signals the emergence of a military-tech complex that promises to be as powerful in this century as the military-industrial complex was in the last.
"These days, much of what is written about the effect of artificial intelligence on war is hyperbolic and speculative. It is thus refreshing to come across a book that is grounded in current military practices. . . . [I]nformative and thoughtful."---Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs "A truly thought-provoking tour de force." ― War on the Rocks “At last, a book about AI and war that is based on realities and not science fiction. Anthony King does not dispute that AI is affecting the conduct of war in significant ways, but it does so as an enabler—as a servant of those who fight, not as their putative master. AI analyses masses of data at speed, and the algorithms it generates inform commanders and can shape their decisions, but it is not taking those decisions, let alone automating warfare.”—Sir Hew Strachan, University of St Andrews “This is an excellent book: sensible, well-researched and ultimately persuasive. King offers a convincing sociological caution about some of the unwarranted hype currently surrounding military AI. I think it will also generate spin-off research on the ‘military-tech complex’—it has certainly piqued my interest.”—Paul D. Williams, George Washington University “The author writes well, in an engaging style yet with a rich theoretical grounding. It’s refreshing to see a theoretical take on technology, and the 126 interviews are impressive as a form of evidence. Readers will learn quite a bit.”—Sarah Kreps, Cornell University “The use of artificial intelligence for military purposes has been a topic of fascinated speculation and debate among academics and practitioners for more than a decade. Most of these discussions have focused on the application of AI through specific platforms or against particular military problems. Anthony King falls on the conservative end regarding the extent to which he thinks AI will transform war. Many of his arguments about the limitations of AI are important caveats to its use by the military. But the true value of this book is in its wider perspective, examining how the industry that builds and enables AI intersects with the military to produce a new military industrial complex and alters civil-military relations. These are questions that have been understudied, and to that end Anthony King’s contribution to the debates surrounding artificial intelligence and its role in war advances the discussion in a timely and insightful manner.”—Jack Watling, the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies
See also: AI Automation and War as reviewed by Lawrence Freedman for Foreign Affairs – March / April 2026
AI, Automation and War as reviewed by Dr. Kaushik Roy, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India for Strategy Page
Photo Credit: Medium - The Artificial Soldier: Exploring the Growing Use of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Warfare
About the book: AI, Automation, and War: The Rise of a Military-Tech Complex by Anthony King Scribner – 228 pages 35.99 (Kobo) Publication Date: August 19, 2025
About the Author: Anthony KingAnthony King is a professor of sociology at the University of Exeter. He has written on sport, social theory, and the armed forces including his most recent books The Transformation of Europe’s Armed Forces: from the Rhine to Afghanistan (Cambridge University Press, 2011), The Combat Soldier: Infantry Tactics and Cohesion in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries (Oxford University Press, 2013), and (forthcoming) Frontline: Combat and Cohesion in the Twenty-first Century (Oxford University Press, 2015). He is currently working on a book on divisional headquarters. Biography Credit: samuelkatzonline.com Book Review / Revue de livres Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement. Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
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