This book gives you an eye opening experience of what happens in the CIA and FBI, recruited in college Walder gives us an inside look of some situations of being an agent. This book has the "can't put down" feel to it because you want learn more!

What a great read! The flow of the story was very good keeping me engaged wanting to see what happened next. The way you chose to keep the redacted sections did not distract from the overall story. Thank you for sharing your experiences while at the CIA and the FBI. I really enjoyed your book.

I struggled a bit with this one... From the descriptions, both in the blurb and from the publicist who introduced me to it, I expected a very different story - this did not read like fiction, it was not a spy story per se nor fast-paced throughout. While it painted a fairly involved picture of one agency (CIA), it did not do much other than offer a dark snapshot into the other (FBI). And it did all of those things with redactions that sometimes involved entire paragraphs...

In a quick aside - the redactions bugged me. A lot. They felt contrived, like a plot device that was intended to gin up extra tension and a sense of overarching drama without having to actually write it into the story. It came across like a way to avoid writing around what the government didn't want her to say explicitly because it was easier than having to rewrite after the censors told her no.... I appreciate the need for keeping certain details out of the popular press, if they would impact (or potentially impact) the safety of individuals or the integrity of missions. So write the story with those details removed - but don't just write the same story and cross random bits of that story out.

The redactions tended to come in groups and some were quite long - paragraphs and multiple lines on page after page. And really, what is the point of redacting an entire paragraph? I appreciate that there are details that the CIA wouldn't want her to reveal - although a number of things she "couldn't" mention were fairly easy to deduce if you paid even the slightest bit of attention to world news and/or stereotypes - but rather than feeling like a way of keeping certain specifics safe, it felt like a way of emphasizing that she knew things we didn't... Obviously she does, she worked there. We get it. But leaving those bits in disrupted the flow of the narrative. It was jarring to keep having to stop and start around words, lines, or paragraphs, particularly when it wasn't even obvious what was being kept out or why. It felt like a game of "guess what's missing" rather than a way to keep secrets secret. And this wasn't a narrative that did well with additional hurdles...

Which brings me to my next major issue - the pacing. I liked the way this one opened and was cautiously optimistic in the beginning, but the story felt bogged down in details and procedure in fairly short order, and I felt my attention flagging at random points throughout. Perhaps it's because we know so much of what was learned about WMD and Zarqawi and Iraq now. But perhaps it's because I found the constant reminders of her sorority girl background unnecessary and distracting. I get it. She wears pink and likes dressing up. And I get that those are, to her, important parts of her personality - and that they become more important as her tale progresses. But throughout much of the book those details feel thrown in rather than intentionally interwoven. By the time they become more relevant, as a result of the abysmal behavior of those she encountered at the FBI (seriously, WTF?! that was wild...),those tidbits were no longer being mentioned and the outlandishness of her treatment outshadowed those earlier details to such an extent that it all felt disjointed and cobbled together. It felt uneven in style and substance - from a great professional experience of a horrifying time in American history with fluffy details peppered in like color commentary, to a horrifying experience of unprofessionalism at the hands of her "superiors" that was stripped of all fluffiness and personality. Her FBI tale was presented as a more horrible experience than her hunt for WMDs, and I found that cognitively dissonant, even if on a personal level it may have been her reality... It jarred me and not in a good way.

And speaking of jarring, there's the last third of the book as a whole. The CIA bits were by far the most involved of the book and the most interesting to me. The FBI was much less well developed and, as mentioned, oddly disjointed considering the detailed descriptions of process involved in the CIA section. While I appreciate that Walder spent much more time with the CIA, and that time was apparently much better spent on all levels, it affected the pacing of the narrative to skip around in descriptive levels and style so much. If the CIA bits were a love letter to the agency, the FBI was a trolling internet comment war. And then there's the "after bits" - which are a Twitter feed by comparison. Suddenly she's married, with a child, and a consultancy/teaching gig helping young girls get more involved in public and world affairs. No mention on how, why, or what got her there really. No details on anything, just the narrative equivalent of an Afterword blurb appended by a stranger... It felt like a completely different author wrote each of the three segments of this book, with different objectives, styles, and goals for each. It felt odd and disjointed and left me confused and dissatisfied, like I don't really know what just happened.

On the whole, this one didn't work for me. The book just never seemed to decide what it wanted to be or hit its stride. I gave it three stars, but that's a bit of a rounding up. I was intrigued by the promise but it never quite delivered...

The Unexpected Spy - Tracy Walder and Jessica Anya Blau
St Martin's Press - February 2020


This is a relatively short book of about 200 pages. It is an easy read, much like having a chat with your sister or favorite cousin after she has been on a long exciting world excursion.

This is Tracy Walder's story of her years in the CIA and then the FBI. Immediately after graduation from the University of Southern California, she started her training at the CIA. The selection process had started in her junior year. On September 11, 2001, she was working in the mapping department at Langley when the planes started hitting the towers. During the days immediately following 9/11, there were increased visits to their department by George Tenet, their director, as well cabinet members Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and others, and George H. Bush himself. So impressed with Bush's intense interest and his ability to make others completely comfortable in his presence, Ms. Walder, a registered Democrat, vowed to vote for his re-election in 2004. (That opinion changed later after he started the war in Iraq.)

She greatly respected the people of the CIA and their mission and much of the book covers her few years at that agency. There are some very graphic descriptions in that part of the book, so be forewarned. One thing she wanted to make clear is the misrepresentation of the CIA's role in some events, where officeholders gave them "credit" for information and decisions that were not the agency's and never acknowledged the countless successes they had at preventing terrorist attacks.

After a particularly grueling experience on overseas assignment, Tracy decided to apply to the FBI in order to be closer to home - her family still lived in California - and to have a more stable life herself. Her FBI training was quite an education - in the misogyny that still exists in today's world even in the first decade of the 21st Century when she was at Quantico. There are several detailed chapters about the training itself and then what she saw as the continued "coddling" of her as a female and underutilization of her skills and knowledge. After 15 months, she had enough and chose to pursue her first career choice - teaching history.

She left the FBI and we next see that she is teaching at an all-girls school, has a husband and pre-K daughter, and classes of motivated girls eager to learn and to change the world through their hard work and commitment. One can only hope that they retain their ideals and desire to reshape the world when they land out in the adult world.

The Unexpected Spy is well written and very engaging in its style. She certainly had great adventures to share. I gave it a 4.5 stars for its easy reading style and engrossing content. Be aware that the names and places have been disguised and some parts of the book were redacted by the federal agencies, so there will be occasional lines of squiggles in their place. Definitely time well spent and do recommend this for anyone who is interested in how our CIA and FBI work. It was a nice refresher in the events of 9/11 and its aftermath as well.

I would like to thank the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for allowing me to read an e-galley of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What was it like to be a woman in the CIA around the time of the 9/11 attacks, the immediate aftermath, what did the hunt for known and potential terrorists entail, what did it feel like to be part of an agency that was both essential to prevent future attacks and locate targets, but simultaneously reviled by colleagues in the international intelligence network and by fellow US agencies? This book gives a fascinating look behind the curtain of all of that, and with the blacked out censored texts we are every now and again reminded that some of this is still top secret.
While the CIA part of the book was enticing, the FBI was somewhat disappointing and from the tone of the author, she shares that sentiment, leaving the agency after just 15 months, not getting her ambitions fulfilled there but finding joy and passion as a teacher.
An interesting account that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book and provide feedback. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad for having read it. Even though I watched the towers go down on that fateful day and sat glued to the TV that day and for days after, I felt that I learned more about the 9-11 time period and some of the behind the scenes work that was being done. I was inspired by the author's tenacity and ability to learn and grow from each phase of her journey. In some ways though, it felt disjointed The foundation/background of the author's early years was well represented as were the CIA years; however, in my opinion, the FBI experience, teaching, marriage, and motherhood experiences seemed rushed and could have been more fleshed out to bring more balance to the overall book. I am glad to know there are people like this author out there who have worked so hard to protect us (and continue to do so) and are helping to get the message out there as to empower women to be their best selves.

First, you have to know that I love the spy world....smart spy novels and tv shows/movies are favorites of mine. I wish I was cool enough to be a spy!! So when I read the description of this book...I could not wait to read it. It did not disappoint. I LOVED reading about Tracy Walder’s time in the CIA and FBI (I could have read another 100 pages about it.) I really enjoyed just finding out how she got the job, her everyday routine at various times, her thoughts on the process of how it all worked, and how she viewed her position within these roles. I also appreciated that she spoke of the inequality for women in these male dominated work places. And finally, in her current position, she encourages bright, young girls to be involved and understand the world around them. This was a fantastic nonfiction read for me and I highly recommend it. Posted on Instagram @carolinehoppereads and goodreads.

An interesting book about Tracy Walder's life as a CIA and then a FBI agent. I received an advance copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

Tracy’s childhood was less than ideal. By eleven years old she had grown to her full height of 5′ ll”. And before she had braces put on there was a gap between her teeth. So not only was she tall, her teeth weren’t perfect and she wasn’t what was thought to be perfectly slim. Also, like many teenagers, she suffered from years of severe acne. Now, none of this is life-shattering unless, of course, you’re around thoughtless kids.

And let’s face it, kids can be horribly cruel. But as bad as it sounds, the continual bullying caused Tracy to become a much stronger individual. And she would need these traits in the future more than she or anyone else might imagine.

Like most women and their careers that I’ve read about, most recently Jet Girl by Caroline Johnson, Tracy faced gender discrimination. In fact, she faced it to such a degree in the FBI that . . . well, you just have to read it to believe it.

But I can guarantee that what she experienced in the FBI, and how she handled it, will cause you to be extremely proud of her.

Both books, Jet Girl and The Unexpected Spy are memoirs that are sure to inspire women for generations to come.

My thanks to #Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of #TheUnexpectedSpy. This #bookreview is the result of my thoughts.


What Concerned Me
While totally understandable, the redacted areas might be a slight concern for some readers.

What I Like Most
I loved reading some of the experiences involved with being in the CIA and FBI. I think many of us are not aware of how many people are working to keep us safe, and what they are sacrificing.

I wasn't sure about reading an autobiography, but this was good. Of course this author is an over-achiever. I found it especially interesting to see the other side of the coin - what info is fed to polititions and how the polititions will change that info to suit their own needs. It is a real shame that women are treated the way some treat them, but I don't see things changing anytime soon. Look at how actresses say they have been treated by men in the industry. Outside of all that, a well-written, interesting life story.

The Unexpected Spy was a difficult book for me to read. By that, I mean it took me so much longer than any other book has. It seamed monotone and dry. I was expecting so much more from this book. The writing was autobiographical, so there was no storyline. It was merely a fact after fact and drug on for a while that way. Some exciting things happened to Tracy at the "farm" and during her time in the CIA. The last 100 or so pages of this book were about how unfair the women's treatment is in agencies. Overall, I learned some exciting things about the beginning of the Iraqi war and the CIA intelligence gathering concepts. The Unexpected Spy would be a good book for a history buff. I was expecting some exciting climax episodes in the book, and it was a letdown.

Tracy Walder’s The Unexpected Spy is her memoir of her years as a counterterrorism officer in the CIA and a special agent in the FBI in the post-911 world. She makes it clear in the beginning that she wouldn’t reveal any classified information, so I was prepared for the redacted lines. She overcomes childhood obstacles (she had floppy baby syndrome and was expected to be mentally retarded) and eventually heads to a California university and pledges a sorority. At a job fair, she meets a CIA recruiter and thus begins her journey into the world of international spies with both the CIA and FBI. A strong woman, she cares deeply about America and about people and who maintains a global rather than an America-first attitude. Throughout her adventures, she juggles being “womanly” (caring about her hairstyle and wearing lipstick) with her job in a largely male-oriented world. She becomes an avowed feminist as she battles daily with overt sexism in both organizations as men call her,"Malibu Barbie,” because of her California origins and her blonde hair.

This is a eye-opening glimpse into the attitudes of American governmental agencies, and it’s harrowing that they can treat women in such a nasty misogynist manner. She switched from the CIA to the FBI and was treated horribly there. When the sexism grew too much, she armed the next revolution by teaching girls how to negotiate their way through such hostilities and how to seek out the truth.

Walder’s account was highly personal and humorous at times. An exceptional read and highly recommended.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I was so super excited to read this book! Sadly, it did not capture my attention and I did not continue reading. Based on the excellent reviews, I am sure it was just a flaw in my judgement!!

Will definitely try again at another time.

A fascinating glimpse into the life of a CIA and FBI agent. It was thought provoking, suspenseful, and full of grit and determination.

"I'm a Delta Gamma girl who joined the CIA, hunted down terrorists, and stopped WMD plots before they could kill. I am a California girl who joined the FBI and helped catch foreign spies on American soil. I am a teacher at an all-girls school who is daring to try to change the world."

The largest portion of the book explores Walder's work in counterterrorism as a CIA operative immediately following September 11th. Her insights into the Bush administration and Weapons of Mass Destruction were fascinating. Her allegations of sexism and harassment inside the FBI were incredibly frustrating. Her work teaching and inspiring young girls is so admirable.

This book shares the bird's eye view of some remarkable opportunities Walder has experienced in her career. It doesn't reveal a lot of specifics (and some portions are redacted) but it was an intriguing read nonetheless. So glad I had the chance to read this one!

I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to #NetGalley and the author and publisher for this opportunity. #TheUnexpectedSpy

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance reading copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed and learned from this memoir more than I expected to. Tracy Walder’s account of many of her experiences in counterintelligence for the CIA amazed me. Being recruited from UCLA to track terrorists seems extremely rare. Certainly she was a highly intelligent student— she does proclaim herself a history and political science nerd—and yet her first assignments in tracking extremist cells abroad sounded extremely challenging.

The book in many places read like an adventure novel; it was that engaging and exceedingly well written. The dangers she faced are described straightforwardly, indicating her courage and dedication. The blatant discrimination and sexism she faced both in training at Quantico and in her assignment in the FBI are heartbreaking, but including these details enhances her story. In all, this was a worthwhile and well developed book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
The author takes us from her days as a sorority girl at USC to her years with the CIA and then the FBI and finally teaching young girls in such a way as to give them a sense of confidence and worth with the hope that they can make a difference in the way women are regarded.
Her story and experiences are fascinating and informative. The misogyny and mistreatment in these two branches of govenment was astounding because I honestly believed we were past a lot of that.

Grateful to the author for allowing me to read a copy of this book. have always been fascinated by spies, whether it is books or tv shows. It is one of my favorite genres. This is a true life story and it is extremely interesting.

Thanks to the ARC folks at Net Galley

I liked it, I didn't think I would at first. I thought it was another #me tough life a sans but she moves past it as any real p[problem solver does. There is some Bush hate there but he earned it but she seems dead on with the FBI.

Doesn't go too political and stays with the important things, I think you will enjoy.

This is a fascinating book about a woman's extraordinary career in the CIA, FBI, and finally as a teacher. Her career in the CIA was stellar and the dangers she faced were intense. It was riveting to read about her work in and dedication to counter-terrorism. She is an inspiration to all women. The sexism and misogyny she endured (particularly at the FBI) was infuriating but she rose above it, never complained, and never quit. It makes me mad to think of all the men of lesser ability, throughout history, who have skated through training and their careers just by virtue of the gender. This is a five star book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.