The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War cover art

The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War

Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture Official Secrets

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War

By: Marcia Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell
Narrated by: Harriet Dunlop
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE OFFICIAL SECRETS

FEATURING A NEW INTRODUCTION

In January 2003, 28-year-old GCHQ translator Katharine Gun received an email from the US National Security Agency that would turn her world upside down. The message requested Katharine’s assistance in co-ordinating an illegal US-UK spy operation which would secure UN authorisation for the Iraq invasion. Horrified, she decided to leak the information to the British press.

Katharine’s decision would change her life forever, as she was arrested under the Official Secrets Act whilst becoming a cause célèbre for political activists. The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War is the definitive account of a whistleblower case that reads like a thriller, and will ask you the same question that was asked of Katharine that cold January day – where do your true loyalties lie?

©2019 Marcia Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Espionage Freedom & Security Military Politicians Women War

Critic Reviews

"One of the crucial untold stories of the Iraq war is told with great passion and sensitivity by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell. It is fitting tribute to the courage of Katharine Gun, who blew the whistle on transatlantic dirty tricks at the highest levels of government in London and Washington. A morality tale for the 21st century." (Martin Bright, New Statesman Books of the Year)

What listeners say about The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Meh

A true story can still be a good story. This reads like a very long article in a newspaper. It might be factual, but it’s not gripping, intriguing, nail biting or all that interesting. I’ve listened to exactly half the book but I’m bored and distracted. I haven’t seen the movie but I hear it’s good. This might be one of the rare occasions when the movie is better. Sorry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.