This is definitely a valuable companion piece to Wright's "Spycatcher".

I got my copy of "Spycatcher" as soon as I could when it hit the shelves here Australia - it is well worn and much read. So to say that I was eager to get my hands on Tate's book with its updated (and newly released) documentation pertaining to the court case to prevent the publication of "Spycatcher" would be an understatement.

It is a meticulously researched and documented account of the "Spycatcher" court case, of its author, Peter Wright, and of the UK governments attempts to keep the long hidden secrets of the British secret service, long hidden still. As mentioned, recently released archived documents have supplemented this work, meaning that much written directly after the original case, has been fleshed out and given context, and in some instances, superseded (and not to the detriment of the original authors).

Tate compared the UK government's attempts to silence Wright to Lewis Carroll's "Hunting of the Snark" - a pointless and uniquely British farce! And this sums things up quite well.

This book, in addition to refreshing my memory of the case (causing me more than once to glance at my copy of "Spycatcher" on my bookshelves) and also reminded me that the counsel for the defence (ie: Malcolm Turnbull) later wrote a book on the trial, titled "The Spycatcher Trial", and rose to become Australia's 29th Prime Minister.

This is definitely one for those interested in the history of the British secret service and of the "Spycatcher" case. One I will be adding to my own library.

To Catch a Spy by Tim Tate unravels the Spycatcher affair, exposing government cover-ups, MI5 scandals, and a whistleblower’s fight for the truth. A gripping read for fans of real-life espionage and political intrigue.

This book is a must read for all of us who remember the spy scandals of the 50s through to the 80s that seem to have filled our newspaper headlines of the day. Now that many classified papers have been released, we have new revelations that that allow us to see what really went on behind the wall of secrecy of MI5, MI6 and No 10 Downing St. All the main protagonists have passed on but the activities of both the Security Services and Soviet agents and tell amazing stories. Now include the machinations of the Thatcher Government trying to silence the former MI5 Officer Peter Wright from publishing his memoires and you have a book of facts that is truly ‘stranger than fiction’.

I remember it all but Tate's book is mindblowing fleshing out the facts we thought we knew and giving us the not only sheer stubborness of the Government of the day but its incompetence and even criminality. Their attempts to beat and even crucify one man, Peter Wright, and his tiny legal team of Australians brings belated shame on those here in the UK that were involved. I'm going back to reading 'Spycatcher' again.
A highly recommended read.
My thanks to Icon Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

This is a fascinating but deeply disturbing account of how the British government, establishment and secret services desperately tried to silence Peter Wright and prevent publication of his “Spy Catcher” memoir.

The level of detail is forensic and the author relies on previously unpublished court transcripts and documents to reveal the extent of the duplicity and attempted cover ups that took place.

I dimly remember the case but this book brought it sharply back to life and deserves a wide readership.