{"product_id":"9781250230980","title":"The Unexpected Spy : From the CIA to the FBI, My Secret Life Taking Down Some of the World's Most Notorious Terrorists","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eThe Unexpected Spy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Tracy Walder, Jessica Anya Blau\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA highly entertaining account of a young woman who went straight from her college sorority to the CIA, where she hunted terrorists and WMDs\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Reads like the show bible for \u003ci\u003eHomeland\u003c\/i\u003e only her story is real.\" —\u003cb\u003eAlison Stewart, \u003ci\u003eWNYC\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A thrilling tale...Walder’s fast-paced and intense narrative opens a window into life in two of America’s major intelligence agencies\"  —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Tracy Walder enrolled at the University of Southern California, she never thought that one day she would offer her pink beanbag chair in the Delta Gamma house to a CIA recruiter, or that she’d fly to the Middle East under an alias identity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Unexpected Spy\u003c\/i\u003e is the riveting story of Walder's tenure in the CIA and, later, the FBI. In high-security, steel-walled rooms in Virginia, Walder watched al-Qaeda members with drones as President Bush looked over her shoulder and CIA Director George Tenet brought her donuts. She tracked chemical terrorists and searched the world for Weapons of Mass Destruction. She created a chemical terror chart that someone in the White House altered to convey information she did not have or believe, leading to the Iraq invasion. Driven to stop terrorism, Walder debriefed terrorists—men who swore they’d never speak to a woman—until they gave her leads. She followed trails through North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, shutting down multiple chemical attacks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen Walder moved to the FBI, where she worked in counterintelligence. In a single year, she helped take down one of the most notorious foreign spies ever caught on American soil. Catching the bad guys wasn’t a problem in the FBI, but rampant sexism was. Walder left the FBI to teach young women, encouraging them to find a place in the FBI, CIA, State Department or the Senate—and thus change the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Absorbing, if often frustrating, given the macho, male-dominant culture prevalent within the Bureau. Readers of memoirs, current events and U.S. history are all sure to enjoy \u003ci\u003eThe Unexpected Spy\u003c\/i\u003e.\"   —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Walder has been able to accomplish more than most people do in a lifetime... [A]  tale of a woman whose mission was to help make America great.\"   —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUSC Annenberg Media\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Lively\"  —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmerican Jewish World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"[Walder] is really not what you would expect... Incredible book.\"  —\u003cb\u003eHeather McDonald, \u003ci\u003eJuicy Scoop\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This book is a nice reminder that far beneath today’s news headlines, there is a quiet cadre of ethical, hard-working and dedicated patriots working to keep us safe.\" —\u003cb\u003eLee Woodruff\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What a romp... it won me over hard.\" —\u003cb\u003eJulie Mason, \u003ci\u003eThe Press Pool\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Walder's candid story will connect with readers curious about counterterrorism work and seeking an inspirational account of a woman seeking to change the balance of power in not only a male-dominated field but the world.\" —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A well-written, engaging memoir, a serious and candid inside view of two enigmatic and significant institutions from a woman's perspective.'\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e   \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tracy Walder's \u003ci\u003eThe Unexpected  Spy \u003c\/i\u003eis an engaging and thoughtful story of service that will inspire generations of young women to come. Tracy's story is particularly moving because it provides a candid but often untold account of the challenges of serving one's nation amid tumultuous times. As a woman in national security, Tracy offers a glimpse into the rewards and risks of actualizing a dream in a male-dominated space.\" —\u003cb\u003eLauren Bean Buitta, Founder, Girl Security\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Walder brings a you-are-there intimacy to her accounts. Often, the youngest person in the room and one of few females... [She] was certainly there when history was made.\" —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed Tracy Walder's unique perspective; it will be inspiring to so many, especially young women with an interest in national security. I couldn't help but compare it to some of my own experiences in the CIA, particularly her exhaustion working counterterrorism, her sense of betrayal in war time, and her feelings of responsibility after a large-scale attack. I admire Walder's ability to channel those challenges into a positive force. A force for change.\" \u003cb\u003e—Sarah M. Carlson,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eFormer CIA officer and author of \u003ci\u003eIn The Dark Of War \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eThe Unexpected Spy \u003c\/i\u003ewill get wide attention, and deserves it. It will give readers a different, more vivid, and more human idea of the actual work of spying, counter-intelligence, and dealing with terrorism. It will be especially important to young women who are considering this kind of career.\" \u003cb\u003e—James Fallows at The Atlantic, author of \u003ci\u003eBlind Into Baghdad\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Tracy Walder has a unique combination of immense courage along with compassion and humanity... This book will be an inspiration to anyone who picks it up.\" \u003cb\u003e—Ellen Pompeo, actress, director, producer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A compelling and well-written memoir that takes the reader on a journey from the CIA's 'Farm' and its 'black sites' to the FBI's training academy\" \u003cb\u003e—Peter Bergen, author of \u003ci\u003eManhunt: The Ten-Year Search for bin Laden from 9\/11 to Abbottabad\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tracy Walder is an exceptionally gifted individual.\"   —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Jeruselum Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Riveting...\"   —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHearst Connecticut Media Group\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"[Walder's] extraordinary commitment and expertise helped shatter the CIA’s glass ceiling.\"  —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFox News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNamed one of the 10 Books Celebrities Love by \u003ci\u003eE! News\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250230980\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40739416211662,"sku":"9781250230980","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_abaa9cd5-7a9b-4847-9d6d-0ca87425bd42.jpg?v=1641363531","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250230980","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}