Surprise, Kill, Vanish

By: Annie Jacobsen

Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen

Length: 19 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

The definitive, character-driven history of CIA covert operations and US government-sponsored assassinations, from the author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Pentagon's Brain.  

Since 1947, domestic and foreign assassinations have been executed under the CIA-led covert action operations team. Before that time, responsibility for taking out America's enemies abroad was even more shrouded in mystery. Despite Hollywood notions of last-minute rogue operations and external secret hires, covert action is actually a cog in a colossal foreign policy machine, moving through, among others, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the House and Senate Select Committees. At the end of the day, it is the President, not the CIA, who is singularly in charge.  

When diplomacy fails and overt military action is not feasible, the President often calls on the Special Activities Division, the most secretive and lowest profile branch of the CIA. It is this paramilitary team that undertakes dramatic and little-known assignments: hostage rescues, sabotage and, of course, assassinations.   

For the first time, Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times best-selling author Annie Jacobsen takes us deep inside this top-secret history. With unparalleled access to former operatives, ambassadors and even past directors of the Secret Service and CIA operations, Jacobsen reveals the inner workings of these teams and just how far a US President may go, covertly but lawfully, to pursue the nation's interests.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Anne M. Jacobsen (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

horrible reading voice but amazing book

I almost deleted this book after a chapter as I could not stomach the authors reading voice, but as I grit my teeth and tried to ignore it the story kept me enticed enough to finish the book. Amazing book and amazing stories, but personally I would've preferred another narator

Soldiers in the shadows

Annie Jacobsen has pulled the curtain open into the deniable world of the Assassin. You meet some of the characters who make up this elite community. You learn the history of this seldom heard from seldom recognized group of individuals who actually make a huge impact on the United States foreign policy. The Third Hand. The Presidents third option. Enjoy one Hell of a listen!!!!!!

Best book

Really gets into the hidden hand the Cia has everywhere in the world. So great!

Awesome

Really interesting, but a long book. I look forward to all this authors work going on .

Great book again by the author

Great book but as others have said it doesn't really get going until chapter 11. After this chapter it's fantastic

great book

great read would highly recommend couldn't put it down. will be reading mire books by annie going forward

Another enlightening book from Jacobsen

Didnt know much about the World of the CIA and its various forms. I found this book very enjoyable and full of varied information. Annie Jacobsen has a real gift to convert what I think is quite a difficult topic to understand into a pleasurable and easily understood book.

Decent

Not a one listen book. Phenomenal amount of research and some amazing history of some remarkable individuals and agencies.

Excellent content, narration a bit flat/robotic

Excellent content. Difficult to get into as narration flat and robotic throughout. Definitely worth persevering

A very well laid out story, really enjoyed it

Covered a wide timespan while keeping the reader intrigued. Hard to put down once you start. The narrator speaks well all throughout the book.

Interesting enough

I enjoyed this book but at times it is a little hard to follow particularly the beginning, It becomes much more interesting and relevant towards the end of the book and I wish this part had been expanded on further. Overall it was good but not great, Also I would have preferred Annie to have narrated it herself but that's a minor point.

I came for the salacious war stories, stayed for the fascinating transition of foreign policy

Had heard Annie and this book on Joe rogan. I wasn’t disappointed by the details of covert missions but I surprised myself being more interested in the narrative of changing american foreign policy. Saddened but not surprised that the Nobel prize committee is so corrupt also. You’ll understand when you listen or read.

Very interesting, performance was lacking

The narration sounded very robotic but was easy enough to get used to. Overall a very interesting listen but it did seem to focus on the theatres that two (albeit extremely experience) operatives were involved in rather than the CIA as a whole. There was a conspicuous absence of anything to do with South America in the book and I feel that's because the author didn't interview people who were involved or those that she did interview weren't able to tell her.