A solid overview, if prone to rather a limited lens at times. Best as a jumping-off point for more specific research.

This book was an interesting read, giving the reader a taste of the world of espionage. The book left me wanting to find out more.

It was an interesting overview of the history of espionage. The book could have had a little more depth to it, but all in all, it kept me entertained.

For the length of the book I found it disappointing and lacking. Many times after I finished the book I kept wonder is that all? Did I miss something?
The book skims the surface leaving readers who wanted more lost and bored. Its a fast read.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy.

This is a short book of 130. Its only digital and sells for $5.38. As such I wouldn't be too harsh on it. It does not go in depth, it isn't too critical and does appear to give a very superficial of spying in the last hundred years. That said, its actually well written, retails at a fairly reasonable price and most people who buy it will probably like it.

Al Cimino the author gives a pretty big pass to how the spy game is linked with the protection of powerful interests. It does not give any real analysis of the links between torture, political suppression and human rights abuse generally and the espionage business. Mostly it centres on the American spy organizations and there it does not look too deeply.

But Cimino writes a good yarn that evokes the excitement of the spy game as if James Bond was real, without distorting what the actual business of spying is. For this I think he actually does a good job. For the low price you really can't complain too much.