Feb 12, 2025
Ever wonder what spy novels a
real-life Special Forces and CIA operative can't put down?
Former Special Forces & CIA Officer James Stejskal reveals his top
five spy thrillers on Spybrary's Dead Drop 5.
The Dead Drop 5 is back! In this much-requested
Spybrary feature, our guest is embedded behind the Iron Curtain and
can request five spy books, a gadget, luxury items and more from
their handler.
Today’s guest is James
Stejskal, a former U.S. Army Special Forces and
CIA operative, turned military historian and
author. James spent 35 years operating in
high-stakes locations across Africa, Europe, the Balkans,
and the Near and Far East. Now an accomplished writer, he’s best
known for his Cold War thriller series, The Snake Eater
Chronicles, and the highly regarded non-fiction
book Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of
the U.S. Army's Elite (1956–1990).
In this episode, James shares his five essential spy
reads—spy thrillers that influenced him and shaped his
view on espionage fiction.
James Spy Book Picks can be found at www.spybrary.com/256