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The Accidental Spy
- Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Politics & Activism
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Summary
The gripping real story of the ordinary American man who found himself at the centre of a deadly terrorist organisation - and working for both MI5 and the FBI.
A bored trucker from New York took a holiday to Ireland with his new girlfriend and brought down the IRA.
Just a quick Google search reveals the level of interest across Britain, Ireland and the US into exactly how this ordinary blue collar worker found himself at the centre of an espionage ring.
David Rupert, a complete outsider with no connection to Ireland, rose to the very top of the Real IRA, all while working for the FBI and British intelligence. But the story is really about just how a bored, frustrated New York trucking manager becomes one of Britain’s most valued spies, brings down the entire IRA structure and makes $10 million in the process.
Along the way he finds himself in the most extraordinary and terrifying situations - is involved in major terrorist operations, sets up an Iraqi sting operation and is organising US arms shipments with a man being trained to kill the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Critic reviews
"I hope I have done justice to David's complex personality and the most extraordinary story I have come across in 20 years of journalism. I hope it answers many unanswered questions and raises some uncomfortable questions for security forces in the US, Ireland and the UK. Most of all, I hope it helps explain the combination of injury, rage and ego that fuels international terrorism and the quiet patience it takes to bring it to an end." (Sean O'Driscoll, journalist and Northern Irish correspondent for The Times)
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What listeners say about The Accidental Spy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- jackie quinn
- 06-07-19
What a fantastic book
An amazing story which is very well written. Taught me so much about the differences between the various IRA factions which for years has been completely baffling to me. A book that everyone remotely interested in the subject should read - thank goodness attitudes (particularly American ones) have changed over time. It's really not nice to blow people up, whoever you are and whatever you believe is right.
16 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 18-07-20
not what I was expecting
I thought this story was going to be a narrated account from the spy himself but it actually a documentary with snippets from the man in question. didn't think I would enjoy the book but it was actually very interesting and factual.
12 people found this helpful
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- Sharona18
- 12-06-19
Really interesting
If you are interested in Irish history this is a great listen. It’s a difficult topic but I felt the author guided me through, and gave a good overview of what was going on in Ireland at the time of David Rouke’s involvement with the IRA.
10 people found this helpful
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- peter
- 30-12-19
David Who....
This story kept me captivated, a briliant insite to the internecine bickering of the republican movement in the 90's. Thoroughly enjoyable.
The book is closed off with the court case and Ruperts life in the aftermath of his experiences.
It was a book I could pick up at any time, but had to wait in the car or do another lap woth the dogs before stopping.
7 people found this helpful
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- Ian Smith
- 23-12-19
great story, amazing this actually happened
great story, amazing this actually happened. well read. a must for any one Interested in the history of the troubles.
6 people found this helpful
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- Pete Page
- 09-05-20
To understand 'Dissident Reoublicanism read'
Started off slow and took a while to get into it but by Chapter 6 I was hooked. The background and events leading up to the Omagh bombing were interesting. Great ending for HMG and law enforcement generally.
5 people found this helpful
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- J. Lundquist
- 30-04-20
The waning (we hope) of entrenched terrorism
Well written, in a journalistic rather than novelistic style. That style is appropriate for this story, as it is so recent and it's useful to show what sources were used. Interesting depictions of the people.
And the content is interesting, but the overall context is gripping: what can calm and defuse decades of partisan fury? This story focuses on the role of the legal systems of the three governments involved (UK, Ireland, and the US), but it points at the political and diplomatic work behind the Good Friday agreements and changes in public opinion (on both sides of the Atlantic) as well.
5 people found this helpful
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- tony keane
- 21-12-19
Fascinating throughout
The narrator / performance from the guy reading this book was outstanding. Really enjoyed the way the book reads the author is brilliant
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-01-20
insightful
interesting how the wrong place at the right time leads to a 10 million dollar payday
3 people found this helpful
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- PaulC6230
- 12-10-19
Amazing read
I loved this audiobook, from the start it had me gripped wanting to know how an ordinary citizen turned into one of the most successful FBI citizen spy.
The story reads like fiction and how the troubles started in Ireland and even how today in 2019 there’s still people who’d like to start another volley of shots against each other. I read this in one sitting that’s how good this book is !
3 people found this helpful