Spooked

The Trump Dossier, Black Cube, and the Rise of Private Spies

By: Barry Meier

Narrated by: Kerry Shale

A Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist’s journey into a billon-dollar secret industry that is shaping our world – the booming business of private spying, operatives-for-hire retained by companies, political parties and the powerful to dig up dirt on their enemies and, if need be, destroy them.

For decades, private eyes from Allan Pinkerton, who formed the first detective agency in the U.S., to Jules Kroll, who transformed the investigations business by giving it a corporate veneer, private spies were content to stand in the shadows. Now, that is all changing. High-profile stories grabbing recent headlines – the Steele Dossier, Black Cube, the Theranos scandal, Harvey Weinstein’s attacks on his accusers – all share a common thread, the involvement of private spies.

Today, operatives-for-hire are influencing presidential elections, the news media, government policies and the fortunes of companies. They are also peering into our personal lives as never before, using off-the shelf technology to listen to our phone calls, monitor our emails, and decide what we see on social media. Private spying has never been cheaper and the business has never been more lucrative—just as its power has never been more pervasive.

Spooked is a fast-paced, disturbing and, at times, hilarious tour through the shadowlands of private spying and its inhabitants, a grab-bag collection of ex-intelligence operatives, former journalists and lost souls. In this hidden world, information is currency, double-crosses are commonplace, and hacking can be standard procedure. Drawing on his journalistic expertise and unique access to sources, Barry Meier uncovers the secrets private spies want to keep hidden.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Superbly Researched!

This book was superbly researched and well written. Whether intentional or otherwise, this book clearly proves with evidence how corrupt and dishonest our politicians have become, but even more frightening, how corrupt and political our, supposedly “Apolitical” government officials have become. Additionally, this book exposes the deep leftist bias in the media, undermining objectivity and truth.

Spoofed

I saw this author on Fox Primetime, a guest of Ben Domenic. The title intrigued me, however an hour into my audible credit I am losing interest. So far it reads as a ode to Glen Simpson. I’m not sure how much more I can take.

Was ok

Was ok.

Interesting read on the rise of the private spies within the geopolitical world and their overlap with journalism.

The book felt a little erratic.