The Spy Who Knew Too Much

An Ex-CIA Officer’s Quest Through a Legacy of Betrayal

By: Howard Blum

Narrated by: Steve Hendrickson

“Howard Blum writes history books that read like thrillers.”—New York Times

A retired spy gets back into the game to solve a perplexing case—and reconcile with his daughter, a CIA officer who married into the very family that derailed his own CIA career—in this compulsive true-life tale of vindication and redemption, filled with drama, intrigue, and mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Goodnight, It’s a real-life thriller whose stunning conclusion will make headline news.

On a sunlit morning in September 1978, a sloop drifts aimlessly across the Chesapeake Bay. The cabin reveals signs of a struggle, and “classified” documents, live 9 mm cartridges, and a top-secret “burst” satellite communications transmitter are discovered aboard. But where is the boat’s owner, former CIA officer John Paisley?

One man may hold the key to finding out. Tennent “Pete” Bagley was once a rising star in America’s spy aristocracy, and many expected he’d eventually become CIA director. But the star that burned so brightly exploded when Bagley—who suspected a mole had burrowed deep into the agency’s core—was believed himself to be the mole. After a year-long investigation, Bagley was finally exonerated, but the accusations tarnished his reputation and tainted his career.

When Bagley’s daughter Christina, a CIA analyst, married another intelligence officer who was the son of the man who had played a key role in the investigation into Bagley, it caused a painful rift between the two. But then came Paisley’s strange death. A murder? Suicide? Or something else? Pete, now a retired spy, launches his own investigation that takes him deep into his own past and his own longtime hunt for a mole. What follows is a relentless pursuit to solve a spy story—and an inspiring tale of a man reclaiming his reputation and his family. It’s a very personal quest that leads to a shocking conclusion.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Fascinating story of the Cold War spy game

I enjoyed this book, although I found the beginning a bit hard to follow. Really interesting real life story that was pieced together through a lot of research and interviews. Maybe a little too long but the ending was well done.

An outstanding puzzle assembled with meticulous research

This story is interesting in how the author managed to unpack the nesting dolls of a very neatly packaged cold war saga that has many threads. In the end, the institutional behavior determining our history may be the most interesting lesson for readers to take note of. This is a great account and body of research.

Amazing

A look inside of how governments work. The release of the information in this book is stunning.

Couldn't stop listening!

This was an excellent spy novel and the fact that it was nonfiction made it better and all the more frightening. I deeply admire Agent Bagley for his dedication to our country and to his moral compass lacking in so many today.

Not having more named resources makes it a challenge to fact check, however there is real danger and consequences for people talking especially today. If even half of this information is true, this Russia has been deeply intertwined and impeded in our government since before generation X was born.

honesty and truth rings out

loved the detail. it was hard to follow at times and I had to rewind and listen a second and sometimes third time