A Time to Betray

The Astonishing Double Life of a CIA Agent inside the Revolutionary Guards of Iran

By: Reza Kahlili

Narrated by: Richard Allen

Length: 13 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

A true story as exhilarating as a great spy thriller, as turbulent as today's headlines from the Middle East, A Time to Betray reveals what no other previous CIA operative's memoir possibly could: the inner workings of the notorious Revolutionary Guards of Iran, as witnessed by an Iranian man inside their ranks who spied for the American government.

It is a human story, a chronicle of family and friendships torn apart by a terror-mongering regime, and how the adult choices of three childhood mates during the Islamic Republic yielded divisive and tragic fates. And it is the stunningly courageous account of one man's decades-long commitment to lead a shocking double life informing on the beloved country of his birth, a place that once offered the promise of freedom and enlightenment---but instead ruled by murderous violence and spirit-crushing oppression. Reza Kahlili grew up in Tehran surrounded by his close-knit family and two spirited boyhood friends. The Iran of his youth allowed Reza to think and act freely, and even indulge a penchant for rebellious pranks in the face of the local mullahs. His political and personal freedoms flourished while he studied computer science at the University of Southern California in the 1970s. But his carefree time in America was cut short with the sudden death of his father, and Reza returned home to find a country on the cusp of change. The revolution of 1979 plunged Iran into a dark age of religious fundamentalism under the Ayatollah Khomeini, and Reza, clinging to the hope of a Persian Renaissance, joined the Revolutionary Guards, an elite force at the beck and call of the Ayatollah.

But as Khomeini's tyrannies unfolded, as his fellow countrymen turned on each other, and after the horror he witnessed inside Evin Prison, a shattered and disillusioned Reza returned to America to dangerously become "Wally," a spy for the CIA.

©2010 Lepton Investments, LLC (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“Genuinely powerful.... People in the Iranian operations division at the CIA should welcome A Time to Betray as a virtual recruitment poster.” ( The Washington Post)

Where Do Informants Come From?

Have you EVER wondered just HOW the U.S. finds people to spy on their own country? I always found that a bit puzzling. The author was right in the center of Iran as many historical events happened going all the way back to the 1970's. He was very pro-American before the Iranian Revolution, and was constantly torn with his loyalties, double life and deadly secrets. Many times I felt seriously moved by the author's tale. Other times, I felt like a fly on the wall in a different era in Iran. I felt that I learned something about another country and their people. I had ONE reservation....in the back of my head, I constantly wondered if this story is exactly what it claims to be. I kept getting a feeling that many parts of this book were compiled from multiple sources, intelligence reports and real spy stories, then rewritten as a coherent first-person narrative. The book gives a face to problem. It strongly supports a military agenda against Iran, and (at the end) even suggests that Iran assisted with September 11th. Either way, this story can't all be propaganda....there is something still very human at its center. Lastly, the narrator here gives one of the best audio book performances I've yet heard. He captures a wounded kind of nobility that really brings this story to life. Still....totally worth the read!

You gotta buy this book.

This is perhaps the best book I have listened to this year. The narrator is excellent and you will be unable to put this book down. This book gets close and personal as a single man tries to free his country from the grip of terror brought about by Islamic terrorist. It is too bad our country has turn a deaf ear to the cries of woman and children that are being slaughtered on a daily basis in Iran.

It's important to know about this!

What did you like best about this story?

This book doesn't read like a boring historic text but a deeply personal story, slowly being unrolled. I enjoyed how it gave glimpses of Reza's life, moving from current day to his childhood to young adult years, back to childhood. Far from being confusing, it laid out different puzzle pieces of his life, slowly revealing a full and touching story.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

While Richard Allen's narration was excellent, it was hard for me to picture an Iranian rather than a Jamaican. I even had other people listen to the book a moment and ask what kind of an accent it was. They thought the same.

Any additional comments?

It's been a couple weeks since I finished reading the book and I'm still thinking about it. It caused me to realize the great privilege of a peaceful country and the need to appreciate and be thankful for Canada. Finally, I'm continuing to ask myself, "As a citizen of this global community, what responsibility do I have to my Iranian neighbours?"

Wow! Interesting, Illuminating and Thrilling!

If you could sum up A Time to Betray in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, Suspenseful, Addicting

Who was your favorite character and why?

The story is about "Wally" and how one man tried to make a difference. You can identify with him throughout the story as he comes across as a regular guy who wants to take a stand and do something good. He is courageous and brave even though he doesn't always seem to know it or feel that way. The stories are thrilling, suspenseful and very enlightening.

What does Richard Allen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Richard Allen takes on the accents and speaking styles of the characters and that helps the listener identify the characters and makes the reading more enjoyable. Sometimes the accent fails a little here and there which does take away a little from the story, but overall I liked listening to him.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

He put his life on the line to do the right thing.

Any additional comments?

A very enjoyable book. Highly recommended for those interested in spy or political stories.

A memoir and a spy thriller.

I read this book because of a life long interest in Iran. The book did not disappoint. There are vivid descriptions of a childhood in Iran and the ravages that have occurred since. Besides being a memoir and a spy thriller, it is also an indictment against US foreign policy towards Iran, and also the atrocities that the Iranian regime commit in the name of God.

The book makes a good companion piece to Argo as some of the same events are covered in both.

The narrator is passionate and brings the authors words to life. It seems to me that the accent is wrong.

The book makes some claims about the Iranian regime which I have not heard before. I was curious if this book was legit. I found a Washington Post review where the reviewer had taken the pains to get some verification. The reviewer did not verify the details in the book, but was able to confirm that the author was a CIA agent.

On the whole I recommend the book as a good memoir simply told.

Fantastic book!

What made the experience of listening to A Time to Betray the most enjoyable?

Unbelievable story that is absolutely riveting. Much like a good physical book is hard to put down, this audio book was so compelling that It was very hard to pause the recording.

AAAmazzing story!

What about Richard Allen’s performance did you like?

His voice fit the story. Not distracting at all.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Gutsy!

Any additional comments?

Thank you Reza Kahlili for your important work.

Great and grave insight!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Time to Betray to be better than the print version?

Did not read the print.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Time to Betray?

Reza finding his friends in prison and the woman who told him her story of exploitation.

Which character – as performed by Richard Allen – was your favorite?

Reza of course. He gives the audience perspective and understanding of his slice of Iranian life. I cringed at the brutality, cried at the injustice and fear the replication
of the ideals of the Iranian government over their people. Reza is a human and heroic man!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I was the one I DID listen to in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I am old enough to remember these events from the news. I am old enough to be concerned that the same words that Iatola Komani used to gain election are the same words that US leaders used in 2008 and 2012. I pray we are not headed down the same path. Are we going to repeat this history in our nation or learn from it? You decide.

A griping story by a brave man

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This man is a real hero. The story is well told and it is utterly amazing.

Very Interesting background on 1980's Iran

Good listen, recommend although voice can droan on.

I liked the background details about life in Iran