Intelligence: A Novel of the CIA

By: Susan Hasler

Narrated by: Susan Hasler (introduction), Joe Barrett, Rachel Butera, Catlin Davies, Terry Donnolly, Peter Ganim, L J Ganser, Gayle Hendrix, Bryan Kennedy, Ken Kliban

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

A team of intelligence agents tries to prevent an impending terrorist attack, but is thwarted by bureaucratic hurdles in this darkly humorous debut by former CIA agent Susan Hasler.

Maddie James and her colleagues are terrorism experts working in a crumbling intelligence agency. They are certain another big terrorist attack is coming, but in a post-9/11 election year, the administration is stressing its victories in the War on Terror, and few want to hear the team's warnings.

Maddie is given a team of five analysts to focus on the impending threat. The crew labors through bureaucratic obstacles, personal problems, and a blossoming romance between its senior members, Doc and Fran. They come heartbreakingly close to stopping the attack, but fail to predict a surprising twist in the terrorists’ plot.

In the wake of tragedy, the administration pins blame on Iran, despite a lack of evidence—so Maddie and her team try to investigate. With dark humor and a razor-sharp tone, they fight back against office politics, government cover-ups, and blackmail in order to set the record straight. A keenly crafted debut that could only be written by an ex-CIA agent, Intelligence will please fans of Wag the Dog and Primary Colors.

The excellent cast of narrators includes Joe Barrett, Dina Perlman, Suzanne Toren, Marc Vietor, Peter Ganim, Elisabeth Rodgers, L J Ganser, Caitlin Davies, Rachel Butera, Ken Kilban, Terry Donnolly, Eileen Stevens, Gabra Zackman, Kevin Pariseau, Joshua Swanson, Gayle Hendrix, Anthony Salerno, and Bryan Kennedy.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an introduction written and read by author Susan Hasler.

©2010 Susan Hasler (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A biting satire of the agency [Hasler] once called home….It’s a very funny book about a deeply unfunny slice of recent history. Read it and weep – but you’ll be laughing, too." ( The Washington Post)

"Often laugh-out-loud funny, Intelligence even manages to squeeze in a genuinely sweet romance. Susan Hasler does for the folks at the CIA what Joseph Wambaugh accomplishes with cops: she gives them human dimension. Sometimes sad, sometimes stupid, sometimes scary and at other times heroic, Hasler’s characters always seem achingly real." ( January magazine, Best Crime Fiction of 2010)

"There have been many books written about the CIA, some of them by ex-agents of the clandestine organization. But none of them have been anything like Susan Hasler’s Intelligence. For one thing, it’s refreshing to get a female point of view. For another, Hasler’s mordant wit makes reading this novel an unalloyed delight. Not since Catch-22 has a novel with such trenchantly mordant wit illuminated the inherent insanity of institutionalized war. Intelligence is funny, sad, and frightening. It’s a book to keep you up at night, one you won’t soon forget." (Eric Van Lustbader)

Great Story, Vivid Characters, Laughed Out Loud

This is a well paced novel told from many points of view. The characters are fun, interesting and well developed.The plot is "ripped from the headlines." Subtle jokes take you by surprise and make you laugh out loud.

Unlike the usual spy novel, this one paints a picture of the most secretive government agency as anything but glamorous - a place where the carpet squares are peeling, the server is sluggish, and workers covet the cubicle with a window.

brilliant riveting intensly serious yet so comical

this is only my second audio book and it'sso great to listen to. the cast of narrators are so good making this brilliant story impossible to stop listening too. Its serious - oh so serious. yet it has parts that have had me laughing out aloud gripping my stomach ! . This is the best story i've ever listened too. I'de recomend it to everyone

Not your typical spy novel....

Apparently the type of people who prefer typical spy novels want their spy heroes to be generally flawless, exceedingly clever and handsome, and to ultimately prevail in any given scenario (regardless of how unlikely the plot contortions this requires). This is not a typical spy novel, and frankly, I'm glad.

This is an extremely well-produced audiobook with a terrific and varied voice cast (so much better than having just one person do different voices for the various characters!), that combines the genres of spy novel and political satire almost seamlessly. The novel presents a compelling picture of the complexities and challenges of working inside one of our country's major intelligence agencies, including both the problems of bureaucracy and the difficulties of keeping at least one step ahead of terrorism, while also retaining a dark sense of humor about the whole business. And, if you have a somewhat dark sense of humor, this book is not just clever, it's laugh-out-loud funny.

It also presents a slightly fictionalized account from a CIA insider about the events leading up to, and immediately following, the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001. The details in the book are consistent with what we've learned in the months and years following the U.S. invasion of Iraq, but are presented from a perspective that has not really been present in political discourse.

This is one of the best audiobooks I've ever heard - it's entertaining, funny, insightful and informative. Highly recommended!

Terrible

I read just about anything related to the spy world. This could just be the worst. Will be asking for my money back.

Too close to the truth

This is an excellent story. It smacks of the reality of what probably happened during and just after 9/11. The multiple narrators was a nice touch.
Except for prolific profanity it would have been perfect. This is not a story that the whole family will want to listen to.

Not worth two

In the introduction the author states that ex-CIA employees should not write books. She then ignores her own advice and proves herself right. She uses the platform to justify her own views which is exactly why ex-CIA employees should not write books.

One of the best audios I've heard yet

With Susan's many years with the CIA she gave us a look of what really happens with in those walls. Excellent story that can be true. Witty....insightful.....edge of your seat narrations by a host of narrators. I truthfully hated to have the story end.

Best Political Thriller I Have Ever Read

Well it's smart and authentic, written by a former CIA analyst. She knows and is able to introduce us to what the inner workings of the CIA.

It is well written, a gripping, suspenseful tale that kept me riveted till the end. It has some of the best, most human characters I have encountered. And it is as funny and clever as it is intriguing.

The narrators are outstanding. I am not a fan of multiple narrators, but every one of these work seamlessly. Joe Barrett is one of the best.

Finally, it actually educated me on just how important it is to beware of the industrial military complex. I do not think I will trust our leadership again when it comes to going to war.

Ughh... painful

I listen to all types of thrillers, but this one has to be about the most poky, boring and pointless of all the novels I've listened to. The narration isn't bad but the story line is just plain uninteresting and has plenty of the author's political opinions included. I listened to the complete first part and part of the second part but just couldn't bring myself to finish it. Glad I got it for $4.95!

Great

It is about time someone wrote a book from the alchemist. point of view. Love it I could relate to their point of view. Haven't most of us worked with people like the characters potrayed in the book.