Customer Rating: 

If you are interested in the countries security do not miss this one, agreat read with many unwriten facts, would also be of great interest of any body who served in the Royal Corps Signal in the Cold war era. worth every penny.

Customer Rating: 

This is a very good account of the long history of cyphers, codes, espionage and secret intelligence from the Thirties through to the present - from pre Bltechley Park to satellite surveillance and continuing spying and treachery by governments on governments - especially supposedly friendly ones!

Aldrcih tells the story in a pacey, readable style and doesn't overload with too many abstruse details.

A very good read for those interested in why the UK still has a place at the top table of strategic and secret information and why in large part the English language keeps us there.

Customer Rating: 

I was immediately immersed in this admirable book which I found joined up a great number of dots from previously published literature on the topic. I do, however, that Aldrich or his proof-readers have devoted just a few seconds to UK locations; Chicksands is not near Baldoch (which is in Hertfordshire), rather Bedford. Likewise, Bletchley somehow landed up in Bedfordshire. Small criticisms, though. The notes and bibliography are breath-taking - and will keep me busy for years to come!

Customer Rating: 

Very interesting. Enough information to make it very worthwhile. Having some experience in the intelligence/security business I have always been surprised at the level of secrecy that continues to surround matters that have well passed their need to be classed secret or above. I appreciate that the UK secerity/secret services are governed by treaty obligations. I also appreciate that there are people that wish to expose matters of importance purely for the sake of doing so and that this has an adverse effect on disclosures by the intelligence services. This book has taken us a big step forward in understanding the valus of sigint.

Customer Rating: 

The book might appear daunting particularly as it is written by an academic and might well concentrate on technical aspects of the spy trade. However, it is so well written that the book is not only informative but extremely interesting and an easy read. No secrets are let out of the bag but for most people a great deal of the more modern period covered will be a revelation. Voice prints over the West Midlands - amazing. Good to know we have such people on our side!