The Dirty Tricks Department

Stanley Lovell, the OSS, and the Masterminds of World War II Secret Warfare

By: John Lisle

Narrated by: Pete Cross

"In this oddly entertaining audiobook, narrator Pete Cross takes listeners through the many experiments and devices created by the R&D branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII... Listeners will be both transfixed and horrified by the decisions weighed, and taken."—AudioFile Magazine

John Lisle reveals the untold story of the OSS Research and Development Branch—The Dirty Tricks Department—and its role in World War II.

In the summer of 1942, Stanley Lovell, a renowned industrial chemist, received a mysterious order to report to an unfamiliar building in Washington, D.C. When he arrived, he was led to a barren room where he waited to meet the man who had summoned him. After a disconcerting amount of time, William “Wild Bill” Donovan, the head of the OSS, walked in the door. “You know your Sherlock Holmes, of course,” Donovan said as an introduction. “Professor Moriarty is the man I want for my staff…I think you’re it.”

Following this life-changing encounter, Lovell became the head of a secret group of scientists who developed dirty tricks for the OSS, the precursor to the CIA. Their inventions included bat bombs, suicide pills, fighting knives, silent pistols, and camouflaged explosives. Moreover, they forged documents for undercover agents, plotted the assassination of foreign leaders, and performed truth drug experiments on unsuspecting subjects.

Based on extensive archival research and personal interviews, The Dirty Tricks Department tells the story of these scheming scientists, explores the moral dilemmas that they faced, and reveals their dark legacy of directly inspiring the most infamous program in CIA history: MKULTRA.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2023 John Lisle (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"The Dirty Tricks Department is a fascinating tale vividly told, full of sabotage and skullduggery, deviousness and invention, and populated by a cast of remarkable characters. James Bond meets Sherlock Holmes—but in deadly serious real life." —H.W. Brands, New York Times bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize finalists Traitor to His Class and The First American

"The Dirty Tricks Department is the best book about the OSS I've ever read. It's also one of the finest intelligence histories in recent years. Terrific research, razor-sharp writing, and a scintillating cast of characters—heroes, weirdos, con men, mad scientists—make this a must-read for anyone interested in the dark arts of espionage and secret warfare." —Tim Weiner, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and author of the bestselling history of the CIA Legacy of Ashes

“[A] knowledgeable and entertaining study … Lisle stuffs the account with bizarre inventions, humorous anecdotes, and vivid sketches of researchers and agents. Espionage buffs will be enthralled.” —Publishers Weekly

The origin of the CIA - very intriguing!

Great characters and examples throughout. A fascinating read that is hard to put down. Enjoy!

Much new information

I’ve read a few books on OSS activities but this is the most up to date. Also includes new information on MKUltra, including more about what happened in Olson’s death,

amazing book finished in less than a week

author was interviewed on my favorite podcast, and at first I thought meh, not interested in history too much, but the more he talked about it and how he talked about it, I decided to listen to the sample. they chose the best sample, I was hooked, so I decided to buy it and don't regret the purchase one bit

Dirty tricks indeed!

Wonderful book, immediately got this after hearing the authors interview on the Chilluminati Podcast.
I had a ballpark idea on the subject and this definitely filled in the blanks and the narrator was crystal clear.

Good book

Good book. Good narration. Lots of information on R&D at OSS HQ. All the things they studied and tested

Fascinating Insight into Subterfuge & Secret Warfare

It is evident within the first handful of chapters in this book that author John Lisle researched this piece with exquisite and exhaustive detail!

I’m so impressed with all of the information I gleaned from reading this historical detail of the U.S’s development of the OSS and how it impacted future decisions and organizations within the US Government!

This is a must-read for those interested in getting a behind-the-scenes view into the unseen decisions when at war and combatting an enemy.

Wild stories

Great stories , ill be telling them for years. So memorable its wild. The napalm bats are my fave

Great listen

My only complaint is that each chapter could have been its own book so fascinating was the material contained therein.

Informative, exciting

An excellent look at the heroes who sacrificed so much for an unsure victory. Entertaining and surprising at every turn.

Great history and incredible stories.

Very good history and 1st hand accounts of what happened in the OSI during WW2

Read very fluently and understandably. The reader had maintained my attention and seemed enthused about the work.

The writing was well done in reminding but not overbearingly who these people were in the story and kept a close grip on the timeline but with ample amounts of information that was captivating and extremely useful to the over all story of the men's life this book covers.