Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book hooked me in. I couldn't stop turning the pages and it left me wanting more. First book I've read by this author and looking forward to reading more of his books in the future. 4 stars

What an engrossing and captivating memoir.

The Accidental Spy is about David Rupert, a bored trucking manager from New York, took a vacation one day to Ireland and ended up rising to the very top of the Real IRA, all while working for the FBI and British intelligence.

We learn that he became one of Britain’s most valued spies, brought down the entire IRA structure, and made $10 million dollars in the process.

Along the way though, he found himself in the most extraordinary and terrifying situations. He was involved in major terrorist operations, set up an Iraqi sting operation and was organizing U.S. arms shipments with a man being trained to kill the then British prime minister, Tony Blair.

Thank you Mirror Books And Netgalley for this ARC.

This spy book gave me a background into the IRA and part of Ireland’s history that I didn’t know last about. It was an interesting portrayal of true events. Reading this book has made me interested in reading more broadly around this period.

A fascinating book. Peels the layers back on the IRA, and it's campaigns to remove the British government from Ireland.
It's told through the eyes of David Rupert, a man with many flaws, who infiltrated the IRA and helped bring down it's paramilitary wing. The book reads like a fiction spy novel, but it actually happened. The author provides plenty of documentation to back up the story.
The author makes you feel like you are there, in the room with Rupert as deals for arms and money were being made. You will feel the frustrations of Rupert, as he deals with the American and British spy organizations, and come to understand their frustrations with him.
I came away with a deeper understanding of the Irish "troubles", and the reasons behind them.
The book itself is well written, flows very well, and keeps the reader interested.
I did stumble a bit over the number and names of the characters, there were a lot of them.
Highly recommend!

This is a truly engaging story. I had a diff to time putting it down to sleep so that I could go to work the next day. I would recommend to spy story enthusiasts as well as people who just like a good story.

Sean O’Driscoll’s “Accidental Spy” gives a good insight into recent Irish political history and how Ireland has recovered from its “bloody” past. Let’s hope that Brexit does not ruin this achievement! . It seems unbelievable that someone like David Rupert became one of the most successful spies with no experience whatsoever.
I can remember all these events happening, especially the carnage of the Omagh bombing, but never really thought about the background and those in the Real IRA who were responsible - apart from thinking,” What monsters could do such a thing?”
I am not sure about the style of writing, I found it over wordy in parts and was often confused as to who was speaking. The ending was too long winded for me but on the whole I would recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion.

Sean O'Driscoll's book "The Accidental Spy" is the incredible story of how American Trucker David Rupert's holiday in Ireland that led to him infiltrating a terrorist group and becoming a spy for FBI and British Intelligence. I have to admit that beats my best holiday story of the time a Monkey stole my glasses in Bali.
Rupert's story reads like something John Le Carre or Gerald Seymour might dream up and it does read like a thriller but it's a true story. A man with a chequered past Rupert convinces the leaders of the Real I.R.A. that he's a died in the wool Republican supporter and can bring them weapons in from America and though his efforts the evil perpetrators of the Omagh bomb are finally brought to justice and further atrocities prevented.
This is a stunning story told well by Sean O'Driscoll who tracked Rupert down and got the whole story from the man himself rather than second hand or through research. I was left with 2 impressions,firstly the bravery and resilience of an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstance when his life was in danger and secondly the true callousness and lack of humanity in those who carried out the Omagh bombing .
A great read that deserves to be a major success for it's author.
Big thanks to Netgalley,Sean O'Driscoll and Mirror Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review....and to David Rupert,a true hero.

I love reading mystery novels but occasionally I enjoy true life books and this one fits the bill perfectly. This book tells how David Rupert, a trucking manager from New York, took an holiday to Ireland and ended up rising to the very top of the Real IRA, all while working for the FBI and British intelligence. He became one of Britain’s most valued spies, brought down the entire IRA structure, and made $10 million dollars in the process. This is no ordinary story.
David Rupert found himself in terrifying situations and was involved in major terrorist operations, set up an Iraqi sting operation and was organising U.S. arms shipments with a man being trained to kill the then British prime minister, Tony Blair.
This is a remarkable story, in which many lives were saved by the heroics of David Rupert, working for years within one of the most brutal and ruthless terrorist organisations in the world.
This book tells an incredible story that not only makes an excellent read but more so because it really happened.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Mirror Books for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting true story about an American man who manages to find himself in Ireland and becomes a spy for the FBI and MI5 against the IRA. The plot reads like what you would expect from a great spy novel however is a completely true story. The only let down with the book was the haphazard writing style. Most of the book is told in third person, however the author occasionally drops into first person perspective with no real warning. Overall a great read, especially for those who are fans of true crime or history books in general.

Thank you NET GALLEY for my copy

Great book, the style makes you want to keepo reading. Pay attention to all the splinter groups but never forget this really happened. Plus he got his wife involved, that's insane! Enjoy

This is kind of a wild story about an average Joe kind of guy who is in the trucking business, and when things get bad he goes to Ireland and finds himself in a position where he’s able to set himself up to snoop around people in the IRA. He just became friendly with some of them in the bars and pubs they ran or drank at. When he went back home to the US, he was approached by the FBI and questioned about his time in Ireland. Eventually he was asked to spy when he was there, and they offered to pay for Dave and his wife to travel there.

The couple figured it was a no-brainer for free trips to the country they loved to visit so much, and agreed. Dave told his wife that he really didn’t know anything anyway, so what harm could come of it. Of course things become much more complicated once he’s in and the spying starts. I found it to be an engrossing read, especially since I just read a book about the IRA a while back that told a lot about the history of it, titled, “Say Nothing”. This would be a good book for anyone wanting to read spying on the IRA, or spying in general. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Sean O’Driscoll, and the publisher.

A page-turner that tells the fascinating and (at least to me) little-known story of an American's improbable rise to the inner circle of the Real IRA and his secret career as a spy for the FBI and MI5. If it were fiction, we would say it's an unbelievable story but it's all amazingly true. Along the way, the author provides a look into the psyche of the Irish republican groups still clinging to their violent ways as peace was finally descending upon Northern Ireland.